Friday Updates - January 27, 2023

Friday, January 27, 2023

TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY – January 27th

The U.N. General Assembly has designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.

POSITIONS OPEN FOR MARCH 14, 2023 TOWN ELECTION - Filing period ends on February 3.

The 2023 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the Oyster River High School, Multipurpose Room, Coe Drive, Durham, N.H. The polling hours are 7:00am-7:00pm. 

Candidates interested in running for office should file their declaration at the Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office starting on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, through Friday, February 3, 2023.

The following offices are open and the current candidates running are listed:

Three positions for Town Councilor (3-year term)

         - Sally W. Needell

        - Emily Friedrichs

Two positions for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (3-year term)

         - Kimberly Sweetman

         - Robin Glasser

One position for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (1-year term)

        - Randall O'Brien

One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (3-year term)

One position for Town Clerk-Tax Collector (3-year term)

        - Rachel Deane

One position for Town Treasurer (3-year term)

        - Karl A. Van Asselt

If you would like to learn more about any elective office, responsibilities, time commitments, etc. please give the Administrator's Office a call at (603) 858-5571 or write to kedwards@ci.durham.nh.us.

Which way to go??? :) Trail markers in Merrick Woods Courtesy, Todd Selig

A Durham Public Works plow truck working to keep the roads clean during the recent storm. Courtesy Jay Moore

EVERSOURCE ENERGY PRICE DECREASE EXPECTED FOR FEBRUARY 1ST The cost of natural gas and electricity and all other home heating fuels continue to be high for people across the state due to increased global demand for gas and electricity. 

On February 1, an average customer that uses 600 kWh per month and has Eversource as their energy supplier, will see a decrease in their total bill by approximately 5.5% or $11. 

This is a result of the decrease in the energy supply rate from $0.22566 to $0.20221 per kWh and an adjustment to the Stranded Cost Recovery Charge from $0.00273 to $0.00718* per kWh. The energy supply cost continues to be the most significant factor impacting customers’ total monthly bills.  

In NH, the energy supply price changes twice a year – February 1 and August 1 – representing the cost that Eversource pays generators for the power that customers use. Eversource only charges customers what it pays generators for producing the power – it does not earn a profit on the cost of electricity. 

How much a customer pays will ultimately depend on how much energy is used, their rate category, and weather conditions. All Eversource customers have the option to buy their power from state-approved retail suppliers or to receive the energy company’s Default Service Rate. Customers can find out more information about retail supplier rates at the Department of Energy’s website.

Programs Offered to Help Energy Customers: 

• See how the weather impacts your bill and how small adjustments to your thermostat can help save with our Heating Cost Calculator. 
• Equalizing monthly energy bills to avoid seasonal spikes with Budget Billing. 
• Even if customers have never needed help before, they may now qualify for special programs to help lower their monthly bill, reduce a past due balance, or extended payment plans. 

Note as well that Durham is exploring potential membership in the Community Power Coalition of NH, which if it works successfully, would bring greener power to energy customers at no more, and hopefully less than, that offered by Eversource.

VOTE ON THE BEST RISING TIDES PHOTOS!

The 2023 Rising Tides Photo Contest submissions are in, and now it is time for you to pick the winners! Click HERE to visit CAW’s website before 11:59 pm ET on February 2 to browse the submission galleries for each of the four contest categories.

Thank you to those of you who submitted photos to the 2023 Rising Tides Photo Contest. We received 70 photos, from 26 photographers, in 11 communities across New Hampshire’s coastal watershed. These four days provided an opportunity to observe, experience, and reflect on the changes to places in which we live, rely upon, and value through the lens of a camera.

Now, the time has come to pick the winners. Vote for the photos that you think best “picture change” from or “picture resilience” to high tide flooding in New Hampshire’s coastal communities. The photos that receive the most votes in each category win. Winners will be announced no later than February 8 and will receive a $50 gift card to a local restaurant of their choosing. Limit one vote per entry per email address. Full details available in the contest rules.

The Waysmeet Center on Mill Road has had changes in staff and big transitions over the years, along with a disaster in their building about 14 years ago that destroyed many of the office records. It has been a long time coming, but through talking with different community members and pulling together what they could with what records they had, they have finally put together their Story! They think that people will be really excited about it, as sometimes Waysmeet perplexes people. Co-Executive Directors, Alyssa Megee and Shanti Scott hope that this Story will answer many questions for people, ensure transparency, generate excitement and hopefully generate support by spreading it around. They are so excited about it and worked so hard to write it up! Click HERE to see this Story and learn more about the Waysmeet Center.

PUBLIC HEARING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPOSED STRAFFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2023

NOTICE is hereby given that a Public Hearing and Meeting before the Strafford County Delegation will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in Superior Courtroom II, Second Floor of the William A. Grimes Justice and Administration Building, 259 County Farm Road, Dover, New Hampshire on the Strafford County Commissioners’ Proposed Operating Budget for 2023. The Public Hearing is to receive public input on the Proposed Operating Budget. A Public Meeting will be held after the Public Hearing to hear any other business that may legally come before the Delegation at that time.

Zoom access to the meeting is available by clicking HERE. (Meeting ID: 818 8121 0726 Passcode: 676481 or Dial by your location: +1 646 931 3860 US One tap mobile +16469313860,,81881210726#,,,,*676481# US)

To read the full public announcement and proposed budget click HERE. A printed copy of the proposed budget will be available in the lobby of the Town Hall.

Officer Chloe Jepson and Officer Sean Malonson showed off a Durham Police cruiser in the downtown to several happy youngsters. Courtesy DPD

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 2021, over 92,000 victims over the age of 60 reported losses of $1.7 billion. The number of losses for 2022 is expected to increase significantly. In 2023, area police agencies are reporting even more increased scam activity already. 

This week, Police in Dunbarton and Somersworth, NH, reported active telephone scams targeting people who were identified as having grandchildren. Those victims lost tens of thousands of dollars. The money will likely never be recovered for them. 

The scams all start off the same, “Your grandson or granddaughter was in an accident and is in jail. They need your help.” The caller goes on to identify (usually accurately) the name of your actual grandchild and says they are in a local jail. They may provide a phone number to an attorney or public defender and say that without sending cash, they will be in real trouble. 

If you get a call similar to this, here are some tips:

• Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story sounds.
• Take time to verify the information being given to you. You can always call the Durham Police Department to assist you. We have the ability to verify if someone is arrested and in custody, even in another jurisdiction. 
• Collect as much information as possible about the person asking for the money.
• Call a verified phone number for the person who says they are in jail. Talk to your friends and family about the situation before acting on anything. 
• NEVER wire money. Instead, work in conjunction with the Durham Police Department and offer to have someone come to your house to collect cash. If a legitimate arrest has been made, no law enforcement agency in New Hampshire would ever do this. You would be required to come to a police station or jail facility to bail a person out.
• Try to obtain as much information about the person calling you as possible. The telephone number they are calling from (if you have caller ID), a telephone number you can call them back at, their name, an address they would want the money sent to.
• Contact the Durham Police Department immediately. 

Do not become the victim of a scam. If something seems odd or not true, it likely is. Never hesitate to hang up and contact the police, we are here to assist you in determining if this is a real event or likely a scam!

Trail Markers in Merrick Woods. Courtesy, Todd Selig

DURHAM POLICE COMPLETE "SWOT" ANALYSIS

All members of the Durham Police Department were present during a facilitation of a SWOT analysis on January 17, 2023.  A SWOT (short for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis helps the Durham Police to assess internal factors that might affect the operation of the organization and external factors that may influence outcomes.  While a SWOT is not a comprehensive review, it is intended to contribute to the coordination and alignment of Durham Police resources, activities, mission, and vision statements all designed to augment delivery of law enforcement services to the Durham community. To view Durham's full SWOT report, please click HERE.

The Durham Professional Firefighters Local #2253 would like to introduce Smokey the Fire Dog. Smokey will give short tips on Fire Safety, weekly so Parents can generate conversation with their children about Fire Safety. Keep an eye out in the weekly updates These small questions and tips are a great way for you as a Parent to teach your kids about Fire Safety, the more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #4

Last week we talked about an Escape Plan. This is having a couple of different ways to out of your home in an emergency.

Now we need a Family Meeting Place. Pick one spot in your yard (the mailbox, a big tree or even a neighbor’s house). The important thing is everyone in the family goes to the same place in an escape emergency, so you all know everyone is out of the house and safe.

Trails are clearly marked for safe walking. Here is a blue trail marker in Merrick Woods. Courtesy, Todd Selig

MAILBOXES & SNOWPLOWING – A Reminder From Durham Public Works - Mailboxes have the potential to be damaged during the winter. Untreated wooden posts only have a life expectancy of 2 to 3 years and can rot at the ground becoming easily knocked over by heavy snow. Homeowners should check post conditions and mailboxes in the fall to avoid damage during the winter, ensuring that they are sturdy and back far enough away from the road so that snowbanks will not damage them. Replacing a rotten post is the homeowner’s responsibility. Occasionally the snowplow may accidentally nick a mailbox. If your mailbox is hit during a storm, Durham Public Works will do its best to make temporary repairs after the storm ends. If it needs replacement, Public Works will replace it with a standard mailbox when possible.  Your patience is appreciated when this happens - please let Public Works know and they will do their best to correct it ASAP. Call the Public Works Department at (603) 868-5578.

Additionally, if your fence is within the Town’s Right-of-Way (ROW), snowbanks may damage it. Most roads have a 50-foot ROW, meaning anything closer than 25' to the center of the road is likely in the Town’s ROW. Any such fences, shrubs, landscaping, etc. are at risk of damage, particularly when snowfall is heavy. Items in the Town’s ROW should be moved back. Snow related damage to these items is the owner’s responsibility. Please call the Durham Public Works at (603) 868-5578 to discuss items that you may be concerned about.

WINTER STORM SAFETY MESSAGES FROM DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS Durham Public Works would like to remind the motoring public that maintaining safe and passable roadways is our main priority during a snow and ice event. Please slow down and allow extra space within the vicinity of snow fighting equipment. Road conditions behind a snowplow are significantly better than those preceding it, and drivers should avoid creating an unsafe situation by attempting to pass this equipment. Please be mindful of roadway conditions and avoid parking on the street during snow and ice events to maximize the efficiency of snow removal operations.

Durham Public Works would also like to remind parents to speak with their children about the importance of staying away from the road during a snowstorm and avoiding snowbanks altogether. It is common for children to play and make tunnels within snowbanks piled during snow and ice operations and the extreme danger these snowbanks present is not always realized. While operators are cognizant of the possibility of children playing in snowbanks, the height of snowbanks can impair visibility, making it very difficult for the operators to react quickly. Additional snow loads on existing tunnels or forts can significantly weaken their structure, potentially collapsing them completely. Many children are fascinated with snow removal equipment, but they do not understand the power or damage they can cause. It is important to educate your children about these dangers to prevent a tragic accident from occurring.

It is important to make sure that winter salt being applied to our driveways is being used in an environmentally safe way. Companies that are certified Green SnowPro professionals are trained to remove snow and ice using practices that keep both the public and the environment safe. To find a list of Green SnowPro certified contractors, click HERE.

A major overhaul of the 20 year old Huber^® step screen at the wastewater treatment facility has just been completed. This equipment operates 24/7, 365 days a year and is the first line of defense at the treatment facility from screening the sewage entering the facility through the sewage collection system. The step screen removes any unwanted larger debis that could damage proccess pumps. Working with Huber representatives, the main drive motor and gearbox were replaced along with other replaceble moving parts. This overhaul of the screening system was approx 1/3 the cost of replacing it and is expected to provide another twenty years of service.

FEDERAL ARPA GRANT APPROVED TOTALING NEARLY $500,000 FOR EDGEWOOD ROAD AND MADBURY ROAD CULVERT REPLACEMENT - Projects to be completed in 2023

At the NH Governor and Council Meeting on January 18, 2023, the Town was approved to receive federal ARPA money in the amount of $246,750 for the Littlehale Creek and Edgewood Road Culvert project and $246,750 for the Littlehale Creek at Madbury Road project. In addition, the Governor and Council authorized the state to enter in loan agreements with the Town to fund the remaining costs of both projects. Durham Public Works is very excited to be receiving this funding to replace critical infrastructure as part of the Madbury Road Complete Streets Project. 

Trail marker in Merrick Woods - green trail. Courtesy, Todd Selig

ORCSD DELIBERATIVE SESSION IS FEBRUARY 7 - at 7:00 PM at the new OR Middle School Recital Hall on Coe Drive in Durham.

Despite an 8.2% inflation at the time of its development, the 2023-2024 Oyster River Cooperative District’s budget sees a 1.54% increase from the previous year. It is one of the District’s smallest increases in a decade. This annual inflation rate, combined with ORCSD’s loss of state funding equaled to $847,318, created a challenging situation for the Oyster River School Board. 

ORCSD is offering early retirement incentives, cutting unfilled positions, choosing not to repave the Moharimet parking lot, and will be forgoing a new carpet for Mast Way’s library. However, Superintendent James Morse indicates the real story isn’t about numbers or financial operations. It’s about maintaining an unwavering focus on student needs.

Parents, guardians, and teaching staff’s high expectations coupled with engaging coursework are the reasons ORCSD students distinguish themselves. Oyster River is highly competitive, and Supt. Morse indicates the District is proud to be one of the highest performing school systems in the country. 

ORCSD’s high aggregate SAT score of 1118 with 82% participation is one of the highest in the state and ORCSD’s math scores are 27% above state average. 

In 2022, the District’s high school’s graduation rate was 98.58% and its college placement was 83%. 

Supt. Morse indicates the District’s students shine locally and internationally. The Middle School’s Robotics Club sent three teams to the world championship in Dallas last year, and the following High School athletic clubs won their respective state championships: Division II Golf (2021), Unified Soccer Team (2021), Girls’ Cross Country (2022) and selected music students participated in All States. 

Recent recognition of ORCSD staff’s achievements includes Alida Carter receiving the New Hampshire Department of Education’s NH PE Teacher of the Year Award (2022-2023) and Val Wolfson receiving the NH Social Studies Teacher of the Year. 

Yet not all children thrive academically. Supt. Morse indicates it is imperative ORCSD maintains a holistic perspective of their development. To that end, Oyster River has implemented a multi-tiered support system (MTSS), prioritized social emotional learning (SEL), mental health, and suicide prevention. These initiatives have proven to be vital to Oyster River schools. 

Supt. Morse invites all community members to attend the budget Deliberative Session at the new Middle School in the Recital Hall on February 7, 2023.

The Oyster River Sustainability Committee invites you to a community dinner on Thursday, February 2nd, 2023, to enjoy a delicious, locally and sustainably sourced spaghetti meal (each dinner also includes a side salad, beverage, and dessert) at the Oyster River High School cafeteria. All are welcome! One bite, and you'll know why our students love their cafeteria so much! Kindly RSVP by Tuesday, January 31st, and let them know of any special dietary needs in the comments section.

Cost: $8 per adult or $20 per family (a family includes up to 2 adults and children living within the same household).

This is a great opportunity to learn about our district's commitment to sustainability, including food waste, food recovery, and sustainable practices such as composting. Presentation by high school students at 5:30 pm and representatives of local sustainability groups will be in attendance (Mr. Fox Composting, Three River Farms, local farmers, ORCSD's Sustainability Committee, etc.). Looking forward to seeing you there!

The ORHS Girls and Boys Basketball Teams welcomes you to come and support your teams! $10 Season Pass, $3 per game, Seniors and Students Free.

All games are held in the Oyster River High School gymnasium at 55 Coe Drive, Durham, NH 03824. For more information and updated game schedules, please visit Oyster River High School (oysterriverathletics.org).

The Museum of Art at the University of New Hampshire is pleased to present Myths Retold: Paintings by Rosemarie Beck, on view at the Museum of Art at the University of New Hampshire January 26 – April 1, 2023. Myths Retold: Paintings by Rosemarie Beck presents a collection of paintings and embroideries spanning more than 40 years of the artist’s career from the mid-1970s through the early 2000s, exploring gendered relationships and universal themes of love, sacrifice, and power, through scenes from classical Greek mythology and English literature. All programs are open to the public and free of charge. The Museum will be closed March 13-18 for Spring Break.

The Museum of Art at the University of New Hampshire is pleased to present Grant Drumheller: In the Garden, on view at the Museum of Art at the University of New Hampshire January 26 – April 1, 2023. Grant Drumheller: In the Garden, is a selection of lush and vibrant paintings of the artist’s family completed during the past eight years and on view for the first time publicly. Observation is at the center of Drumheller’s work as a figurative painter; he is well-known for large-scale compositions of pedestrians on bustling streets, beaches, and Italian town squares and palazzos where he is often removed from the action. All programs are open to the public and free of charge. The Museum will be closed March 13-18 for Spring Break.