Friday Updates - March 6, 2026

Friday, March 6, 2026

Courtesy, Internet

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour this Saturday night for Daylight Savings! ️

Light freezing rain and drizzle is expected to begin tonight and continue into early Saturday morning. This could make for slick travel.

UPCOMING TOWN & SCHOOL ELECTION INFORMATION - March 10, 2026

Due to the fact that Durham has a Council form of government, there is no town meeting but instead a town election to elect officials and vote on articles of business for the coming year.

Durham’s Town & School Election: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Oyster River High School Multipurpose Room, 55 Coe Drive. Polls open: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. If you are not registered to vote, go directly to the polling location on Election Day. Voter registration is closed at the Town Clerk’s Office, same-day registration is available at the polls with the required documentation. Election details & sample ballots are available on the Town of Durham website by clicking HERE.

What’s Needed to Register to Vote in Durham, New Hampshire

• You must provide documents proving identity, age, U.S. citizenship, and domicile in Durham. Please click HERE for more info.
• Documents may be paper or electronic. Affidavits are no longer accepted in place of documents. 
• Questions? Contact the Durham Town Clerk: 603-868-5577

DURHAM AGAIN RECOGNIZED AS A TREE CITY USA 

Durham has been approved for the 2026 Tree City USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation, marking the program's 50th anniversary season and the Town's 48th consecutive year in the program - the longest running in New Hampshire (dating to 1978!). This honor celebrates Durham's sustained commitment to urban forestry through dedicated budgeting, tree care, and community education efforts. Official physical recognition materials are en route to Durham at this time. Kudos to DPW for being dedicated shepherds of this program for the community.

At Monday night's Council meeting, Sally Needell was recognized for her many years of service on the Town Council. She is not running for another term. Sally is pictured here with Council Chair Joe Friedman. Courtesy, Todd Selig

THIS WEEK’S LEADERSHIP TEAM (A.K.A. DEPT. HEAD) MEETING REPORT

Over the past week, Town election officials and staff have been busy preparing for the March 10 election and moving forward several infrastructure and technology projects. Below is a brief look inside Town operations from this week’s Leadership Team meeting.

Election, Finance, and Clerk/Tax Updates - The Leadership Team met via Zoom on March 3 to debrief the recent Town Council meeting and review election preparations, zoning work, infrastructure projects, library, and recreation updates. The group discussed preparations for the March 10 Town Election at Oyster River High School, including testing of new ballot‑counting devices and coordination with the Secretary of State’s Office, which has invited Durham to participate in a post‑election audit as part of statewide election integrity efforts. Public Works will be placing off‑site election signage, including a variable message board downtown reminding residents on where Town voting takes place, while trying to minimize loss of on‑street parking. The Clerk/Tax Office continues to field many questions about New Hampshire’s vehicle inspection laws and is directing residents to local mechanics and standard State information channels - the state keeps changing the information it is providing causing a lot of confusion for everyone. On the assessing side, roughly 64 abatement applications have been filed (consistent with the number of applications dating to the last revaluation process two years ago), with interior and exterior inspections to occur over the next 2–2.5 months, and Assessor Darcy Freer will include a reminder in next week’s Friday Updates about property tax credits and exemptions and the April 15 application deadline.

Zoning and Housing Discussions - Planning Director Michael Behrendt briefed the group on zoning amendments before the Town Council affecting the Central Business District, where current standards now allow buildings up to four stories and 50 feet, with new proposals likely to advance to allow a fifth story in select locations to create additional housing opportunities downtown. The team also talked about potential zoning changes in some residential neighborhoods, including the role of Accessory Dwelling Units and the possibility of more intensive use of single‑family lots being considered by the Planning board. There was some concern expressed about broad changes that could significantly alter longstanding single‑family areas, while others emphasized the need to expand housing choices both downtown and in outlying neighborhoods. The discussion underscored the importance of incremental change, careful calibration of any zoning amendments, and strong public engagement to balance housing needs with preservation of neighborhood character. To see more of what the Planning Board is proposing, click HERE.

Public Works, Recreation, and Finance Operations - Public Works Director Rich Reine reported on infrastructure and operations, including the Madbury Road Complete Streets Phase 4A/4B project (contracts awarded Monday evening by the Town Council), where coordination with Unitil is underway to relocate gas infrastructure needed before roadway work proceeds. Winter operations continue with snow removal and cleanup, including attention to sidewalks and pedestrian routes serving the schools and downtown. Staff noted that Parks & Recreation summer camp registration is strong, with many sessions already filling, and staff are working with families on waitlists and program options. In the Business Office, staff are preparing for the annual audit and preparing to transition to a shared schedule of 20 hours per week of one position with the Town of Madbury and 20 hours in Durham/20 hours in Madbury, supporting both communities’ financial operations and funded equally both each community. The proposal must still be approved as part of Madbury’s Town Meeting next week. 

Library and Community Services - Library Director Sheryl Bass reported that the library closed early at 6:00 p.m. due to weather and that the Oyster River High School art reception originally scheduled for that evening has been rescheduled for the following day from 5:00–7:00 p.m. She noted increased use of the library by transient and underserved populations seeking help with forms, basic medical questions, and tax information, emphasizing that these interactions have been peaceful and consistent with the library’s mission as a welcoming, supportive resource. The group also reviewed the recent Town Council meeting at which several individually lawfully attended while openly armed with holstered sidearms, primarily during the public comments section of the meeting. 

Public Safety - Police Chief Rene Kelley highlighted upcoming community‑oriented efforts such as the “Skate with the Cops” event and a community survey to build relationships and gather feedback on police services. 

Meeting Procedures, Technology, and Radio Systems - Information Technology Director Luke Vincent updated the team on the CivicPlus website redesign (Town of Durham website), noting that he will be soliciting staff feedback on the new design and that a content “freeze” will be implemented. During the freeze, new or revised material will need to be tracked for migration to the new site. He reported that IT is addressing and documenting sporadic auto‑login and workstation issues and reviewed the status of the Town’s annual Motorola radio maintenance contract, approximately $13,000, which will be renewed now that operational needs have been confirmed with Police and Fire. Related radio infrastructure work will include realignment of microwave paths at the Foss Farm and Stoke Hall sites, with an estimated cost of $1,500-$2,000 per site, to address potential interference.

Grants and Accessibility – Jackson’s Landing - Finally, Parks & Rec. Director Rachel Gasowski, Land Stewardship Coordinator Veronique Ludington, and a small staff team are preparing an application to the AARP Community Challenge program seeking funding for accessibility improvements at Jackson’s Landing. This effort builds on the work of the Land Stewardship Subcommittee and its accessibility subgroup to improve access to outdoor recreation areas for older adults and residents of all ages. The grant targets quick‑action projects that enhance outdoor spaces, mobility, and universal access, and staff are working against AARP’s early‑March deadline to submit a competitive proposal. Fingers crossed!

At Monday night's Council meeting, Carden Welsh was recognized for his service on the Town Council. He is currently running for another term. Carden is pictured here with Council Chair Joe Friedman. Courtesy, Todd Selig

ROLLING INTO THE FUTURE! - Automated Curbside Solid Waste and Recycling - Collection Cart News and Updates

On or around June 29, 2026, Durham’s curbside solid waste and recycling collection will transition to fully automated collection!

This exciting transition to an industry standard program will be preceded by the distribution of standardized containers (Toters™) for all residents participating in curbside collection. Each residence will be assigned Town owned containers for solid waste and recycling – A 96-gallon container for single-stream recycling and a 64-gallon container for solid waste. Detailed instructions will be provided at the time of cart distribution and on the Town’s website around cart use and placement.

Recycling will no longer need to be separated into dual-stream streams, as recycling will all be collected in one container as a single stream collection, every other week.

Alternate container sizes may be requested prior to March 31, 2026, by visiting our online Alternate Cart Size and Program Opt-out form HERE or by contacting Durham Public Works at (603) 868-5578. After March 31, residences will be assigned the default 96-gallon and 64-gallon container sizes noted above, and alternative container size requests will be reviewed and accommodated as inventory allows. Residents who choose to opt-out of the program will need to consider alternative collection or choose to visit the Transfer Station.

For full program details, please visit Durham’s Automated Curbside Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Handbook HERE or contact Durham Public Works with specific questions or needs at (603) 868-5578. Stay Tuned for more information as the roll out date approaches.  

The Community Power Coalition of NH - When the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) provided power to their first member communities in April of 2023, the Utilities were mandated by law and the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to purchase power in advance, in 6-month increments, to minimize risk. The introduction of community power programs, which have more flexibility to purchase short- and long-term pricing contracts, challenged the status quo and resulted in substantial reductions in consumer prices and increased competition, as evidenced in the above chart. The advent of CPCNH on the NH power market brought prices down dramatically, and narrowed the competitive differences, helping NH consumers save millions on their electric bills. The introduction of CPCNH saved NH residents millions of dollars over its first two-years and helped establish a more competitive power market.

CPCNH is a Start-up

During this start-up period, CPCNH was positioned to compete aggressively on price, while at the same time building up a financial reserves fund that would insure against unexpected expenses. This allowed CPCNH to “meet or beat” the default Utility prices for their member communities and provided millions of dollars in savings to their residents. As the PUC allowed more flexibility in power purchasing for the Utilities, the cost to consumers came down, and the variation between utilities decreased. This is the current marketplace where CPCNH now competes, and consistently competing on price alone is no longer possible. In addition to the marketplace changes, CPCNH faces other challenges common to start-ups.

Looking Forward

In its first 2 years CPCNH competed in an overpriced marketplace that was easy to undercut, while still growing reserves so crucial to a start-up. Once the marketplace tightened up, the ability to offer the lowest price while still in start-up mode became very challenging and was compounded by a serious depletion of reserves due to unpredicted weather and poor market positioning. By creating new internal tools and procedures to aid in load forecasting, contracting, and cash flow management, CPCNH is now in a much stronger position in a marketplace requiring smaller margins. But there is still a short-term challenge to rebuild a reserve fund as the final key to remaining a strong competitor, and that means a slightly higher price as a temporary measure.

The value of CPCNH is thus changing from just a low-price offering, to emphasizing the other values of more green power choices, advocacy for and participation in Distributed Energy Projects, championing market innovation, and supporting all the above through advocacy efforts. In these ways, CPCNH continues to provide a voice for the NH consumer to get more value and competition in their power marketplace, now and in the future. 

Support for Community Power

The Durham Energy Committee receives monthly updates on the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) and is aware of the challenges facing this community focused start-up in the rapidly changing electric power marketplace. The Durham Energy Committee supports Durham’s continuing participation in CPCNH for the following reasons:

• Flexible greener energy choices support the Town’s Climate Action Plan to reduce our carbon footprint. (see options HERE)
• CPCNH is building up the reserves a start-up needs to increase financial ratings, lower costs, and offer lower prices in the near future.
• Staff experts at CPCNH closely monitor the legislative and regulatory arenas in NH, sponsor legislation, and alert residents to critical bills and votes.
• CPCNH is encouraging proposals for green energy projects in NH and is partnering in the construction of the largest solar array at Poverty Plains, in which Durham will participate, coming online in July.
• All meetings of CPCNH are posted online HERE and are open to the public, including meetings where rates are set. Transparency is an important value CPCNH brings to the power marketplace.
• Durham customers may opt out at any time to a more competitive supplier based solely on price or can choose a menu of greener energy mixes through CPCNH. 

Interestingly, in developments we are watching closely, Liberty has had to raise their rates above CPCNH due to recovering from under-collection during last summer's rate period. This could be a first indication that utility prices have been set too low; we will have to wait and see. The new Liberty rate was 14.84 cents compared to CPCNH at 14.637.

For more background on CPCNH’s history and the challenges it faces, please see this page HERE on the Energy Committee’s website. 

TAX TIME REMINDER FOR DURHAM RESIDENTS

As you prepare your federal income tax forms, a quick reminder that much of the information commonly requested by tax preparers is already available online or in your personal records.

• Property tax bills can be found on the Town of Durham’s website HERE.
• Motor vehicle registration fees paid during the year are listed directly on your registration—look in the bottom right-hand corner.
• Utility billing information is also available online HERE.

To help us best serve the community, we kindly ask residents to avoid calling or emailing the Town Clerk’s Office to request copies of documents that are already available online or in your possession. With limited staff and resources, your cooperation allows us to focus on essential services for all residents.

Thank you for your understanding, and best wishes for a smooth tax season!

At Monday night's Council meeting, Emily Friedrichs was recognized for zir service on the Town Council. Ze is not running for another term. Emily is pictured here with Council Chair Joe Friedman. Courtesy, Todd Selig

HEAR, HERE!? - Do you need audio assistance at Town meetings?

Are you or someone you know in need of audio assistance while attending Durham Town meetings (including Council, boards, commissions, etc.)? The Durham Human Rights Commission has created a short survey for those who may struggle with hearing during town meetings. The results from the survey will help the town better serve those that need hearing assistance. To participate in this survey, click HERE. Answers are confidential.

UNH TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE UPDATE

The UNH Transportation Policy Committee, on which Durham is represented by Town Planner Michael Behrendt and Administrator Todd Selig, met on February 12 to review campus parking, transit, and policy trends for the coming academic years.

UNH reported a stable overall parking supply of about 7,000 spaces with continued strong demand for resident student parking and visitor parking revenues that mirror a slight decline in the Town’s own pay‑station revenues. Wildcat Transit data show roughly a 10% increase in Campus Connector ridership, with lower ridership on the Dover and weekday Portsmouth routes, trends the committee will study further through an April 2026 transportation survey.

For Academic Year 2026–27, the committee is considering parking permit fee adjustments for resident, non‑resident, and commuter permits (visitor rates would remain aligned with Durham’s rates), together with an increase in the “meter stay limit” violation from $10 to $50 to discourage ParkMobile abuse and improve turnover in high‑demand areas.

UNH and Durham will continue to coordinate closely on transportation management. We recognize the shared impacts on downtown parking, traffic, and transit service for students, employees, and residents alike.

DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY SURVEY SEEKS FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS

The Durham Police Department, in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, is conducting its ninth Community Survey, last done in 2023, and we want to hear from you!

Surveys are being mailed to Durham households to gather feedback on residents’ perceptions of crime and policing in our community. You may have already received one in your mailbox. Online versions are also available. You may complete either the paper or online version, whichever is most convenient, but complete only one! Your responses help the Department better understand priorities and guide efforts to provide responsive, cost-efficient, and compassionate police services. Participation is always voluntary and completely confidential.

Residents may complete the online version HERE. Please complete and return the survey by April 1, 2026. The survey should take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete.

For questions, contact Captain John Lavoie at jlavoie@ci.durham.nh.us or 603-868-2324, or UNH Survey Center Director Andrew Smith at Andrew.Smith@unh.edu, or at 603-862-2226.

Are you planning a celebration sometime this year? If so, you may want to consider skipping the balloons.

While latex balloons are often marketed as biodegradable, they can take months or even years to break down, especially in water. Mylar (foil) balloons do not biodegrade at all. As balloon fragments break down, they turn into microplastics that become dangerous litter, contaminating water sources and killing marine life and wildlife through ingestion or entanglement from the ribbons or strings attached to balloons.

Helium, often used to fill balloons, is a non-renewable, finite resource with important scientific and medical uses. Helium-filled balloons cause environmental damage when they are part of a balloon release and let go into the atmosphere.

What sustainable choices can I make?

Be sure all balloons are disposed of in the trash. Instead of decorating with balloons, consider choosing paper lanterns, paper streamers, potted plants, fabric bunting or native flowers.

Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service 

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.

Fertilizer applied in excess, or at the wrong time, can wash off lawns and driveways during rain or snowmelt, carrying nitrogen and phosphorus into Durham’s streams, rivers, and ultimately the Great Bay. These nutrients fuel algae blooms that reduce water clarity and harm eel grass and aquatic life.

Around four pounds of nitrogen is deposited annually per acre just from rain in the Seacoast. Smart use means testing your soil before applying fertilizer, choosing slow-release or low-nitrogen and phosphorus products, using organic fertilizers (naturally!), and keeping fertilizers far from driveway, storm drains, and wetlands. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn and maintaining healthy soil can often eliminate the need for added fertilizer altogether. The UNH Cooperative Extension provides soil analysis and fertilizer recommendations to homeowners. Click HERE to find out more.

At Monday night's Council meeting, Wayne Burton was recognized for his many years of service on the Town Council. He is not running for another term. Wayne is pictured here with Council Chair Joe Friedman. Courtesy, Todd Selig

DURHAM ROADWAYS POSTED FOR RESTRICTED WEIGHT LIMITS

Durham Public Works would like to remind residents and contractors that unless specifically permitted by the written authorization of the Public Works Director, it is unlawful for any person, partnership or corporation to haul, transport or cause to be transported by vehicle with a gross weight over six (6) tons any material over the following Class V roads from 12:01am on March 15 through 11:59pm on April 30:

• Back River Road – From US 4 to Madbury Town Line
• Bagdad Road – From Canney Road to NH 108
• Bay Road – From Newmarket Town Line extending to Durham Point Road
• Bennett Road – From Packers Falls Road extending to NH 108
• Canney Road – From Madbury Town Line extending to NH 108
• Dame Road – From Newmarket Town Line extending to Bay Road
• Durham Point Road – From Bay Road extending to 100 Durham Point Road
• Emerson Road – From Bagdad Road to Madbury Road
• Longmarsh Road – From NH 108 extending to Durham Point Road
• Mill Road – From Packers Falls Road extending to Woodridge Road
• Packers Falls Road – From Newmarket Town Line to Lee Town Line
• Watson Road – From Back River Road to terminus
• Wednesday Hill Road – From Packers Falls Road extending to Lee Town Line
• Winecellar Road – From Longmarsh Road extending to terminus
• Wiswall Road – From Packers Falls Road extending to Lee Town Line

Officer Ryan Gooding recently participated in a comprehensive, and no cost, winter driving training program designed to mitigate the inherent risks officers face when navigating hazardous New Hampshire road conditions. The multi-phased training began at Primex, the Town’s municipal insurance provider, where Officer Gooding utilized a state-of-the-art driving simulator to practice emergency maneuvers in a controlled, virtual environment. This was followed by an intensive classroom session.

To put these skills to the test, Officer Gooding then transitioned to a closed-course "skid track" covered in actual snow and ice, allowing for real-world application of recovery techniques and precision braking. In addition to being fun, the training was successful in building the skills needed for officers driving during some of our worst weather.  

On March 18th and March 19th, members of the University of New Hampshire Police Department and their regional local law enforcement partners, to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will participate in annual Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (A.L.E.R.R.T.) at the university’s academic facility, Horton Hall.*

This vital training prepares officers to effectively respond to active threat situations that have unfortunately impacted colleges and universities across the nation. A.L.E.R.R.T. is recognized as a national model for active threat response, and participating officers will receive certified instruction from experts in the field.

Because this training is hands on and fluid in nature, the building and adjacent areas will be closed during the training dates. Those areas will be clearly posted with standard signage to alert the public to the ongoing exercise.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the University of New Hampshire Police Department at (603) 862-1427 or through the “Contact Us” link on the department’s website.

(* Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.)are not involved in the training.)                                                                                                                       

Durham Firefighter, Ryan McFadden, recently completed the International Ice Water Rescue Instructor Academy in Scarborough, Maine. Firefighter McFadden, along with 20 other first responders from 9 different states (including Alaska and Canada), spent 4 days training to become authorized ice rescue instructors.

Instructor candidates participated in a variety of training in the classroom, as well as practical sessions executed on and through the ice. Course topics included: escape and rescue from submerged vehicles, domestic and large animal rescue, emergency resuscitation protocol for drowning, and hypothermia recognition/treatment. 

To further expand the student’s experience, a night operation that coincided with a blizzard was conducted. A search and rescue mission for a group of 10 missing people and 1 dog was organized to illustrate various types of distress and how to respond using the practical knowledge students learned over the course. This course meets/exceeds the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1006 and 1670 Standards for Technical Rescue.

Firefighter McFadden is excited to share these new skills with members of the Durham Fire Department. 

Are you curious about the different plants, trees, insects, fungi and other species that live around you? Join us on Sunday, May 17th to explore alongside experts to identify and learn more about the species living in the Oyster River Forest/ Spruce Hole Bog conservation property right here in Durham.

Do you want to volunteer for this event's organization or maybe as an expert to help lead a group collect data? Email our Land Stewardship Coordinator Veronique Ludington at vludington@ci.durham.nh.us

We are planning to use the iNaturalist app that day, an online tool that will help us collect, centralize and share data, so if you want to familiarize yourself with the platform, click HERE.

The event has already been created HERE, so add it to your Projects! And in the meantime, you can contribute to this project HERE, no need to do anything other than record your observations in Durham in the app!

On March 6 from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. the Freedom Cafe at 37 Main Street, Durham, is hosting the group "Kouchera R&B Across the Decades." From the soulful rhythms of the 70s to the infectious beats of the 80s, the smooth melodies of the 90s, and the modern hits of the 2000s, we'll be celebrating some of the best of R&B music across several decades.

Kouchera (/ˈkoo-CHAIR-uh/) is a high-energy ensemble that delivers electrifying performances with emotional depth and boundless fun. Seamlessly fusing Rhythm, Haitian Konpa, and Soul, Kouchera creates an unforgettable musical experience that will leave audiences inspired and dancing.

For tickets, click HERE.

Raising Chickens in Your Backyard – a workshop for Durham residents interested in starting and maintaining a healthy flock, will be held on Saturday, March 14 from 10am to Noon at Durham Town Hall. Join the Agricultural Commission and UNH Cooperative Extension for this free workshop that will provide essential information and practical guidance for successfully keeping chickens in your backyard. Please register for the workshop by emailing the Agricultural Commission at theresawalker@comcast.net or calling Theresa Walker at 603-534-3913.

ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION AND NH HUMANITIES SPONSORING FREE EVEN ON MARCH 23

The Active Retirement Association (ARA) and NH Humanities announce a FREE event featuring Jo Radner, PhD, author and past president of the American Folklore Society and the National Storytelling Network. She will discuss excerpts from her book, Wit and Wisdom: The Forgotten Literary Life of New England Villages, to relate how early New Englanders created handwritten “newspapers” full of verbal wit and humor as a form of entertainment.

The presentation will take place on Monday, March 23, 2026, 2:00 – 3:30 PM, at the Durham Evangelical Church, 114 Dover Road (Route 108), Durham, NH. Radner received her PhD from Harvard University, and before returning to her family home in western Maine as a freelance storyteller and oral historian she spent 31 years as a professor at American University in Washington, DC, where she taught literature, folklore, women’s studies, American studies, Celtic studies, and storytelling.

This FREE event is open to the public and is made possible in part with funding from New Hampshire Humanities (www.nhhumanities.org); pre-registration is not required. Cash donations for area food pantries will be gratefully accepted. Light refreshments will be served so come and bring a friend!

The ARA is an all-volunteer organization for people ages 50 and over, whether retired or not. Originally begun by and affiliated with the University of New Hampshire, it currently has over 370 members from New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and beyond. The ARA is committed to encouraging life-long learning for its members by offering lectures, workshops, discussion groups, cultural tours, walks/hikes, member-interest Programs on Demand (PODs), and much more. For more information visit www.aranh.org, or to inquire about membership write to arainfo1982@gmail.com. We invite you to join us and expand your world!

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

Earn $35/hr doing something you love!!! Oyster River Lacrosse would love to hire you to ref all our home games!!!

New Hampshire Youth Lacrosse Association (NHYLA) and Seacoast Youth Lacrosse League (SAYLL) — along with Oyster River Lacrosse — are recruiting former players to become youth lacrosse officials for the 2026 season.

Register for Training HERE.

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Scheduled School Closures

March 13: All Oyster River schools will be closed for a teacher workshop day.

Voting Day is March 10, 2026

• The ORCSD Annual Report of the District has been published online HERE.
• February 3 Deliberative Session may be watched on the ORCSD Videos YouTube channel HERE. The meeting minutes are on the district website HERE.
• Budget Video Series: The district launched a series of videos intended to share information related to the FY27 budget. Watch the videos on the new FY27 Budget Videos page HERE.
• Budget and warrant articles information is available on the District website's Budget Documents page HERE, under the Budget FY 26-27 tab.

Elementary Project Update

• Video Series: An informational video series featuring Superintendent Shaps, Director of Facilities Dave Totty, Director of Student Services Catherine Plourde, and Principals Misty Lowe and David Goldsmith can be found HERE.
• Frequently Asked Questions are answered on our FAQ webpage HERE.

School News

ORHS Scholastic Art Exhibition at Durham Public Library

A large crowd gathered for the opening reception on Wednesday, March 4. Students' artwork will be displayed through the end of March. Oyster River High School (ORHS) is celebrating an exceptional year in the 2026 Scholastic Art Awards, with students earning a total of 50 awards for their outstanding creativity and craftsmanship. To learn more, click HERE.

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 HERE.

March 3: ORHS Scholastic Art Exhibition Opening Reception

5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Durham Public Library. Oyster River High School (ORHS) is celebrating an exceptional year in the 2026 Scholastic Art Awards, with students earning a total of 50 awards for their outstanding creativity and craftsmanship. Thirty-two students were recognized, several for multiple works of art. 

March 12: ORCSD Faculty Concert

6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School.

March 19: Music in Our Schools Concert

6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School.

March 25: ORHS National History Day Exposition (Please note: This event was rescheduled from March 19 due to the conflict with Music in Our Schools Concert)

5:00-6:30 p.m. Cafeteria at Oyster River High School.

March 26: ORMS Humanities Night

5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Oyster River Middle School.

March 28: Moharimet Pancake Breakfast

8:00- 11:00 a.m. at Moharimet School. Suggested Donation: $6 per person or $20 per family. Cash or check to Moharimet School will be accepted. Maple syrup and t-shirts will be available for sale.

The UNH Panhellenic Council is launching “Diaper Madness," a month-long diaper and wipe drive in support of the Child Study and Development Center at UNH. As the largest women’s organization on campus, Panhellenic is committed to using its collective reach to support the broader Durham community. This initiative aims to assist campus families served by the CSDC, particularly in light of recent tuition increases and the center’s inability to continue providing essential supplies such as diapers and wipes. By rallying students, faculty, staff, and community members, the Panhellenic Council hopes to ease this burden and demonstrate strong community support for local families.

Throughout the month of March, donation collection sites will be placed across campus and around Durham to encourage widespread participation. Community members are invited to donate diapers (sizes 1–7, with the greatest need being sizes 5–7; no pull-ups, please) and wipes. While all brands are appreciated, Target and Pampers diapers are preferred, along with gentle, unscented Pampers wipes. Donations may be dropped off at designated collection sites or contributed through our online donation link HERE.

Those interested in participating or learning more are encouraged to contact Ava Vieira, Panhellenic President, at ava.vieira@unh.edu.