Friday Updates - June 26, 2026

Friday, June 26, 2026

Courtesy, Internet

Happy 250th! There will be no Friday Updates next week due to the July 4th Holiday. All Town Offices will be closed on Friday, July 3.

Durham will not be having any fireworks for the July 4th Holiday. You can find a list of fireworks in neighboring towns HERE.

The Lamprey River Advisory Committee Summer Newsletter is out! You can download it HERE.

For the entire month of July, hourly parking on the business side of Main Street (M&T Bank to the Juicery), Madbury Road between Main Street and Pettee Brook Lane, Jenkins Court, and the Bobcat Corner Lot will all be free! Parking Enforcement will still be present but will only enforce unsafe parking, handicap parking violations, and fire lane violations. 

Please help support downtown businesses with your patronage. Questions – please reach out to the Durham Police Parking Division – parking@ci.durham.nh.us

Beginning July 6, UNH contractors will be working at the intersection of College Road on Main Street to replace pipes that provide heating and cooling water to New Hampshire Hall. This detour plan shows the expected work area and associated detours that will be in effect during this approximately 3-week project.

Pedestrians on Main Street will be detoured around construction using the New Hampshire Hall walkway. The bike lane will be closed on Main Street in front of New Hampshire Hall during construction, and can be bypassed by walking bikes through the pedestrian path or via the sidewalk in front of Morrill Hall.

Please call Durham Public Works at 603-868-5578 with any questions related to this project.

An archaeological training session took place on site on Thursday, June 25, hosted by Independent Archaeological Consulting, LLC (IAC) to prepare site staff in case any historical structures or artifacts are uncovered during project excavation work. In addition to training SumCo, VHB, and Town staff, IAC will be involved directly with site work that involves excavating material from the pond area through the duration of the project.

This week, SumCo began construction of the timber mat access road into the impoundment and continued turbidity monitoring, erosion/sediment control installation, and other site preparation activities. Next week, the contractor is scheduled to continue work on the impoundment access road and water control/dewatering in the impoundment. Careful relocation of the old mill turbine is expected to take place next week as well. Initial dam breach will begin once preparation is complete, as early as the week of July 13.

The Town of Durham has been in frequent direct contact with New Hampshire Fish and Game to discuss potential impacts to wildlife by the Mill Pond drawdown and overall project. They were also involved with the design and planning phases of the project. The impoundment drawdown is performed very slowly to allow wildlife to retreat and find new homes (as required by Fish and Game), and Fish and Game has communicated that at this point in the season, most animals’ young are mobile enough to move with the adults. NH Fish and Game is also monitoring several potential turtle nests along the waterway embankments. Any questions or concerns regarding wildlife near the Oyster River can be directed to NH Fish and Game at (603) 271-3421.

More details about the project including the NHDES Wetlands Permit and Contract Documents can be found HERE. A hard copy of the Mill Pond Dam Feasibility Study and some supplemental information have been provided to the Durham Public Library and is accessible for public review.

Any questions regarding the project can be directed to Town Engineer April Talon, P.E. at 603-868-5578 or via email at atalon@ci.durham.nh.us.

Nancy Sandberg and her daughter Betsy making a presentation at the Durham Historic Association annual picnic on June 14. Courtesy, Loren Selig

DURHAM CANDIDATES FILE FOR THE 2026 NH STATE PRIMARY ELECTION

The filing period for candidates seeking placement on the ballot for the 2026 New Hampshire State Primary Election closed at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026. The State Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with successful candidates advancing to the General Election on November 3, 2026. Durham voters will elect representatives from two New Hampshire House districts, along several other county, state, and federal races, including Governor and U.S. Senator. District 10, which includes Durham, has four (4) House seats to be filled. Durham voters will also elect one (1) Floterial Representative from District 20, which includes Durham, Lee, Madbury, and Dover Ward 4.

In addition, incumbent Strafford County Sheriff and Durham resident Kathryn Mone has filed for re-election.

For the most current candidate filing information, and for a complete list of offices appearing on the September ballot, please visit the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s 2026 Election Information page HERE.

A final list of Durham candidates is below.

Strafford District 10

• Gale Bailey, Durham, DEM
• Wayne M. Burton, Durham, DEM
• Timothy Horrigan, Durham, DEM
• Paul Rasmussen, Durham, DEM
• Siena R. Schaier, Durham, DEM
• Loren Selig, Durham, DEM
• Micah Warnock, Durham, DEM

Strafford District 20

• Allan Howland, Durham, DEM

There is still a Severe Drought in Durham and Southeast/ Coastal NH. Even after the last month and a half of wet weather, 36% of New Hampshire’s footprint (affecting 75% of the State’s population) remains in moderate drought or greater. 

Find out how you can help by conserving water at home, upgrading your landscaping to retain moisture, by clicking HERE. 

You can also report dry well or severe water supply issues HERE and possibly get financial assistance HERE.

PLANNING BOARD UPDATES

The Planning Board is holding three public hearings on July 8

• nature-friendly revisions to the Lighting Regulations
• a requirement for the owner of single-family properties with an accessory dwelling unit to live on the premises (in either unit)
• an application from Eversource to cut trees on three scenic roads – Durham Point Road, Bay Road, and Packers Falls Road. 

You can see all of the related documents for these proposals and other current Planning Board projects HERE.  

The UNH Pool is excited to welcome you back for another season of sun, fun, and relaxation. Even better, MVP and Seasonal membership prices have not increased for the third consecutive year!

Looking for a weekend deal? Every Saturday in July, take advantage of a special offer: buy two entries and get the third free, perfect for bringing along friends or family.

Thursday Night Buddy Nights - Bring-a-Buddy Night Swim – at the UNH Outdoor Pool on July 2, July 16, and July 30 for a special evening swim! Current pool members may bring one guest free, and valid MVP pass holders may bring one additional guest free (two guests total).

Stay tuned for Saturday events! Beginning in July, there will be pool deck chalk art, bingo, trivia, and more! Events will be listed on the Know Before You Go HERE.

Ready to dive in? Explore membership options and sign up today HERE.

The weekend of June 13, several members of the Durham Police Department had the privilege of joining law enforcement agencies from across the state in support of the annual New Hampshire Special Olympics State Summer Games, hosted at the University of New Hampshire.

The 2026 Games marked New Hampshire law enforcement’s 42nd year of partnership with Special Olympics New Hampshire. Through this long-standing partnership, law enforcement officers help inspire and encourage athletes to work hard, achieve their goals, and celebrate their accomplishments. Our officers were honored to be part of such an incredible event and to support these outstanding athletes.

Congratulations to all the athletes who participated in this year’s Games! 

The draining of the Mill Pond revealed a "shipwreck" and "deck chair"! Courtesy, Tom Richardson

Repurposing, reusing and avoiding the purchase of plastic products are all ways to cut down on plastic pollution.

IWMAC members have volunteered to transport plastic plant pots collected at the Swap Shop to local big box stores who offer the plant pots to customers who wish to reuse or repurpose them.

In addition, the Swap Shop will continue to collect plant pots that are in good condition (only), so that residents can reuse or repurpose them as needed. It is important to remember, however, that only plant pots appropriate for reuse should be left at the Swap Shop. 

It is also important to note that our local recycling facility does not recycle plant pots, so plastic plant pots should not be put in curbside recycling or brought to the transfer station for recycling.  Any plant pot in disrepair or otherwise inappropriate for reuse, should be put in the household trash.

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 HERE

SWAP SHOP NEWS

The Swap Shop has been busier than ever this season. It’s great to see so many items being made available for reuse and so many items finding new homes. 

With the popularity of the Swap Shop, the volunteers are often very busy. Their jobs include greeting you to ask about and see what you have brought, and to ask if everything is CLEAN, has ALL of its PARTS, and is in WORKING condition. Volunteers then display your items on the outdoor tables or place them on shelves indoors. Unique items tend to use the outdoor “real estate,” while other items are sorted and go onto the shelves. When many people arrive at the Swap Shop at the same time, volunteers may place your items on the overflow tables next to the greeter’s table. What is accepted at the Swap Shop is at the discretion of the volunteers on duty.

The Swap Shop has limited indoor space, and despite our efforts, some items end up on the “Last Chance” table either because they have been at the Swap Shop for weeks, they are too dirty, do not have all of their parts, don’t work, or are holiday items. (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah are accepted a month before their respective holidays.) These items go into household trash at the end of the day. 

All furniture is exposed to the weather. Only about half of the furniture that is dropped off will find a new home. The rest will be sorted into the metals and/or bulky and household waste roll-offs. We cannot take upholstered furniture unless it is accompanied by a bulky waste coupon that has been purchased at the Transfer Station. If you have furniture to give away, consider contacting the Salvation Army or other agency, or advertise it on Oyster River-Pass it On-No Sales HERE.

VHS tapes and cassette tapes are rarely picked up at the Swap Shop. Periodically they are taken to Bull Moose record store in Portsmouth.  If you have tapes in good condition, please consider taking them directly to Bull Moose.

On a busy day, the Transfer Station may see over 1,000 cars. Many of those cars also stop at the Swap Shop. When visiting the Swap Shop, please take into consideration the parking challenges. If you intend to stay more than a few minutes, please park beyond the Swap Shop in the area approaching the exit. Volunteers park in the area set aside for Transfer Station attendants.

The Swap Shop closes at 2:30 pm so that we can put everything away and volunteers are able to leave before the Transfer Station closes at 3:00 pm.

We look forward to seeing you!

THE SWAP SHOP

Durham’s rivers, streams, and tidal waters support a diverse fish community that plays an essential role in the health of the Great Bay. The Lamprey and Oyster Rivers provide habitat for resident freshwater species as well as migratory fish that move between rivers and the ocean. These waterways flow directly into Great Bay, a nationally significant estuary that supports nursery habitat for juvenile finfish, including American eels, river herring, and rainbow smelt, all of which rely on connected river systems for spawning and early development.

Healthy riparian buffers (the area adjacent to a waterbody), intact wetlands, and protected stream corridors help maintain the cool, clean, oxygen‑rich water these species depend on. Sea lampreys still live and spawn in the Lamprey River (While they are called “eels” due to their long, snakelike bodies, they are actually primitive, jawless fish rather than true eels). And there are still oysters in the tidal section of the Oyster River. 

By protecting our aquatic habitats and reducing nutrient and stormwater pollution, Durham plays an important role in sustaining the fish populations that support Great Bay’s ecological balance and regional fisheries. 

NEW CONSERVATION LAND IN DURHAM

Two weeks ago the Nature Conservancy and Southeast Land Trust finalized the purchase from the Gsottschneider family of a 28.6 acre forested property on Durham Point Road. This site is near a substantial block of protected land around the Crommet and Lubberland Creeks and strengthens landscape connectivity for wildlife moving through the Great Bay Watershed. 

Funding for the acquisition was provided by the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), the state Moose Plate Grant Program, the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership, the Durham Conservation Fund (for $50,000) and private donors. You can see more information, including maps of the site HERE.  

Four of the 7 species of turtles considered native to NH (Blanding's turtle, spotted turtle, wood turtle, box turtle) were identified as species in greatest need of conservation in the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan, which you can find HERE.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department maintains a database of all reptile and amphibian reports through its Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program (RAARP) HERE.

Please consider reporting your sightings, and remember, if you want to help a turtle cross a roadway, move it in the exact same direction it was facing, and gently place it a few feet off the road, and never pick a turtle up by its tail.

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY: If your septic system gets clogged with too much solid waste, it can force the wastewater to back up into your house. It can also overwhelm your leach field, which will turn your yard into a soggy mess. The bacteria in wastewater are not just smelly – they are also a health hazard!

PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY: If a septic system fails, untreated wastewater can run off into local lakes, ponds, or streams, negatively impacting water quality, wildlife and community enjoyment of the water body.

PROTECT YOUR WALLET: Getting your tank pumped costs about $250-$500 every 3-5 years. If you have a failure, it could cost you $6,000-$15,000 to replace or repair your system.

Septic tanks should be inspected or pumped every 3-5 years. Only contact a NHDES-licensed septage hauler. NHDES maintains a list of permitted septage haulers on their website HERE.

Stormwater pollution prevention is the responsibility of every dog-walker, lawn caretaker, and septic system owner. The Town of Durham is required by our Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit to provide outreach every year to mitigate runoff impacts to the MS4. Please visit the Durham Public Works Stormwater webpage HERE for more information on how you can help prevent stormwater runoff pollution.

Come downtown to the June 29th Farmers' Market at the M&T bank parking lot to pick up free, wildlife-friendly outdoor lighting (two per Durham household) from 2:30pm until supplies run out. Volunteers will be handing out amber yellow bulbs, which can be used in any standard outdoor light fixture. The bulbs have a CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) of 2200K.

The benefits of installing these yellow bulbs vs standard white light bulbs are many: they won't attract disease vectors like mosquitoes and flies to your entryway, they make it easier to see the stars, they interfere less in firefly reproduction, and they are less disruptive to circadian rhythms in humans and wildlife.

Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers is proud to partner with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to bring free, high-quality books directly to children in our community at no cost to families. Each month, a new, carefully selected book arrives in your child’s name, helping spark a lifelong love of reading from birth through age five for families in Durham, Lee, and Madbury. They can look forward to new and exciting reading adventures from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library until they turn five years old as long as you remain a resident of Durham, Lee, or Madbury.

Dream More, Learn More, Care More, Be More ™

Who Is Eligible?

Preschool children (birth until their fifth birthday) of Durham, Lee, and Madbury, NH.

What Are My Responsibilities?

1.      Be a resident of Durham, Lee, or Madbury.

2.      Register Online HERE (registration must be approved).

3.     Notify Oyster River Parents & Preschoolers any time your address changes. Books are mailed to the address listed in the official registration. If the child’s address changes, you must update your address in the online parent portal in order to continue receiving books.

4.     Read with your child.

When Will I Receive Books?

Books will begin arriving at your home eight to ten weeks after your registration has been received and will continue until your child turns five or you move out of Durham, Lee, or Madbury.

How Can I Help?

Do you know a preschool child in Durham, Lee, or Madbury who is not receiving Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library? Encourage their parents to enroll!

This program is made possible through the generosity of our community—just $31 provides a full year of books for one child. If you know of a business, organization, or individual who would like to donate funds to support this gift to children, donations can be sent to:

Oyster River Parents & Preschoolers

2 Dover Rd. Durham, NH 03824

ORPPnh.DPIL@gmail.com

Alternatively, donations may be made directly through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library:

Click HERE to donate online

Be sure to check the box to direct your donation to a specific Imagination Library affiliate and choose NH – Oyster River School District.

Learn more about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library HERE.

This little guy was on the edge of the Town Hall parking lot on Thursday evening. Courtesy, Karen Edwards

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Summer Nutrition Assistance Programs

Oyster River families in need of nutritional assistance during the summer months can contact End 68 Hours of Hunger HERE and Community Action Partnership of Strafford County HERE.

Summer Hours Between June 22 and August 21

The SAU office summer hours are Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The SAU and schools will be closed on July 3, in observance of Independence Day.

The schools' summer hours are:

• Mast Way School: Tuesday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Moharimet School: Tuesday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Oyster River Middle School: Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
• Oyster River High School: Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

2026-2027 Calendars

ORCSD's printable 2026-2027 school calendar is available HERE. This document is subject to change. It is recommend that you check for online updates on the district calendar page regularly.

The School Board's 2026-2027 meeting schedule is available on the district's Meeting Schedule page HERE.