Friday Updates - May 17, 2024

Friday, May 17, 2024

It's commencement time in Durham, NH. Courtesy, Todd Selig

Congratulations to the UNH graduating class of 2024! 

Next week is National Public Works Week intended to honor public works professionals who plan, design, build, manage, and operate the infrastructure that ensures a higher quality of life for residents and their communities across the nation.

Durham Public Works would like to remind residents that the Raymond. A. LaRoche, Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center will be OPEN on Saturday, May 25th from 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Additionally, there will be NO curbside collection on Monday, May 27th. Monday’s route will be collected on Tuesday, Tuesday’s route on Wednesday, etc. There will be no changes to the commercial recycling route on Friday.

UNH COMMENCEMENT IS THIS WEEKEND! - Expect traffic delays in and around campus.

The Durham Police Department would like to remind residents that UNH will be hosting several commencement ceremonies at the Whittemore Center this coming weekend.

The ceremonies will start on Friday, May 17 and continue through Sunday, May 19.

Residents will notice an increase in motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the area of the Whittemore Center. It is recommended that Durham residents find alternate routes on those days to alleviate any possible congestion or delays to travel plans.

Again, congratulations to all graduating students and their families!

Following a national search, Elizabeth S. Chilton, a native of the Northeast who most recently served as chancellor of Washington State University’s (WSU) Pullman campus, has been appointed the 21st president of the University of New Hampshire, effective July 1, 2024.

President-elect Chilton will succeed President Jim Dean, who is retiring after six years leading UNH. She was appointed the inaugural chancellor of Washington State’s Pullman campus in 2022 after joining WSU in 2020 as provost and executive vice president of the WSU system.

WSU Pullman is the system’s flagship campus and Washington State’s land grant university, serving about 18,000 students. Prior to becoming chancellor, her role as chief academic officer included oversight of research functions across the six-campus system, a role she continued in while serving as chancellor for the last two years.

President-elect Chilton’s appointment concludes a search launched last fall after Dean announced his intention to retire. A 16-member search committee, comprised of representatives of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and students across UNH’s three campuses, led the search.

President-elect Chilton visited UNH at Holloway Commons last Friday morning, May 10th. 

From 2017 to 2020, President-elect Chilton was dean of the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York system. Prior to that she spent 16 years at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, serving in a variety of roles including professor, anthropology department chair, and associate vice chancellor for research and engagement.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University at Albany, SUNY, and then her master’s and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her academic work focuses on the pre-colonial archaeology of Northeast North America, as well as paleoecology, cultural resource management, heritage studies, and materials science. She is the author of dozens of peer-reviewed book chapters and journal articles.

UNH reports that President-elect Chilton is an avid hiker, kayaker, and canoeist, as well as an enthusiastic choral singer. Her husband, Michael Sugerman, is also an anthropology professor. The couple have an adult son and three lively dogs.

UNH shared with the Town this week that Union Court, located on the second floor of the Memorial Union Building (MUB), will be open this summer, offering a variety of food, beverages and treats in the middle of campus. Union Court will open on Monday, May 20.

To accommodate this change, UNH will be closing the Dairy Bar for the summer, beginning this Friday, May 17. The Dairy Bar will re-open for fall semester. UNH indicates that business at the Dairy Bar has been down significantly in the summer months over the last few years. 

Union Court Summer Hours

• Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Union Court summer menu will feature popular ice cream flavors, wraps, and sandwiches from the UNH Dairy Bar. They will also be opening the patio outside of Union Court so patrons can enjoy some summer sun.  Click HERE for a look at menu items.

We are pleased to report the Strafford County Superior Court’s order denying the Town & Campus, LLC request for reconsideration for the reasons identified in the Town’s objection to that motion crafted by Durham Town Attorney, Laura Spector Morgan. Town & Campus now has 30 days to file a notice of appeal with the NH Supreme Court. 

Presiding Justice Anne M. Edwards wrote: “Petitioner, it [in] his motion to reconsider, does not identify errors of law that the court made or facts that the court miss apprehended. Instead, the petitioner is re-arguing the points he made during the hearing on the merits, which the court has ruled against. For those reasons, the motion to reconsider is DENIED. So ordered.”

To review the reconsideration request and the court’s decision (typed at the very bottom of the document), click HERE. 

COMMUTESMART NH OFFERS BIKE SWAP PROGRAM FOR INTERESTED RESIDENTS

The Central NH Bike Coalition is holding the 15th Annual Concord Area Bike Swap with the goal of raising funds to support bike programs and projects in Concord and surrounding communities.

Durham residents looking for a new bike or hoping to sell their old one may be interested in S&W's bike swap this weekend.  The 15th annual swap is located at the store at 296 South Main Street in Concord. The sale happens Saturday May 18th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday May 19th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

If residents are looking to sell a bike it can be dropped off between Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (May 17-19th). If a consigned bike sells, 75% of the proceeds go to the seller and 25% goes to the Central NH Bicycle Coalition.

Tulips overlooking Mill Pond  Courtesy, Jane Taylor

ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) SHOWCASE PLANNED BY ENERGY COMMITTEE FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 2, FROM 12-4:00 PM - Looking for EV car owners to display their cars

The Durham Energy Committee has organized a showcase of EVs that will be on display at the Tideline Public House. EV owners will be present as well as new car dealers to answer questions in an educational, non-sales environment. Multiple manufacturers and current models will be represented. Explore the EV experience, ask questions, enjoy some good food and mingle with your neighbors!

Volunteers are needed who want to display their EV during all or part of the event. Please sign up on the web page below as a “Participant” and indicate your model EV and year. Due to limited display space, recent models and the greatest variety are being sought, but all owners are encouraged to attend to share their experiences with newcomers to electric vehicles.

More information is available at the web page HERE.

DO YOU NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE OR CHANGE PARTY AFFILIATION?

Residents of Durham who are not yet registered to vote, may do so at the Town Clerk’s office any time that office is open. Residents who are already registered may change party, address, or name, also at the Town Clerk’s office any time that office is open.

Residents may also register to vote or change party or name with the Supervisors of the Checklist on the following date:

           Date:             Tuesday June 4, 2024

           Time:             7:00 – 7:30 PM

           Place:            Durham Town Hall

Applicants for registration should bring with them proofs of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Driver’s license and passport are helpful. Affidavits may be signed under oath if other proofs are lacking. 

A person’s party is not important EXCEPT at a primary. The next election in Durham will be the NH State Primary, which will be held on September 10.  The final date to change party for that election will be the above date, June 4, 2024.  Don’t be caught at that election finding that you are not registered to vote with the party you wish! You may check your status HERE. If you have trouble finding your personal information, please call the town clerk’s office. We have had a few instances where we had the wrong date of birth. Also, any changes made since the town election in March may not show up yet.

National Preservation Month is celebrated each year in May. Local and regional groups mark the month by celebrating historic preservation. This month, the Durham Heritage Commission is highlighting one of our historic treasures. We are planning to install a bronze plaque at our first Town Hall in the coming months.

History of Durham's First Town Hall

The First New Hampshire Turnpike was chartered in 1792 and built during the next few years to connect Portsmouth with Concord. Local citizen Joseph Coe saw that Durham would soon be centered on the new land route rather than on the traditional Oyster River waterfront. 

Joseph Coe (1782 – 1852) was the son of Reverend Curtis Coe (1750 – 1829) who preached in the Oyster River Meetinghouse from 1780 to after 1800. Joseph Coe owned property and real estate investments, in addition to a shipbuilding business on the Oyster River, which was the commercial center of Durham.

In 1820 Coe purchased property at the corner of the Turnpike and Newmarket Road. He constructed a three-story brick commercial building with a dramatic curved corner entrance dominating views from all directions and located his own home next door.

The Federal Style structure is distinctive for its construction of locally-quarried hammered granite and locally-made brick, which were both important Durham products. The workmanship displays particular skill in the two different masonry bonds for the straight and curved walls. The front door and transom are also curved to fit. The windows on all three floors had shutters, as can be seen by the iron shutter dogs. This is a rare building type — there is one similar in Dover and a just few more in Portsmouth. Coe later sold the building to Mary Pickering Burt, widow of Reverend Federal Burt, the successor to Reverend Coe.

In 1840 the growing town’s government purchased this building for use as Durham’s first Town Hall. By 1852 renovations had been completed, removing the third floor to create a double height meeting room on the upper level, with a wide stair at the north corner. The dramatic tall triple-hung windows express the civic stature of the building.

The local Post Office occupied space on the ground floor in the 1860s and again in the 1890s, a sign of the important central location. Office and meeting spaces served the town’s needs until the 1960s, after which the Durham Historic Association was installed in the upper floor space while other town functions occupied the ground floor and the two buildings next door on Newmarket Road.

The Old Brick Town Hall was documented by the Historic American Building Survey during the 1930s. In 1980 it was entered on the National Register of Historic Places as a significant contributing resource in the Durham Historic District, which is also our Local Historic District.

Revolution: 1774 is coming on June 15th!! The party starts at 11:00 am with a flag-raising ceremony in front of General Sullivan House by the Sons of the American Revolution. Durham's own Linette Miles will sing the Star-Spangled Banner as the American flag is raised. Then go back in time - ever seen a 1774 Taunton flag? You will on June 15th! Please visit the website for all the information you need to make June 15th, 2024, a day for you and your neighbors to remember. RAIN DATE: June 16th.

All the details can be found at www.revolution-1774.org

PLANT A ROW IS BACK -- What is the Plant A Row Program?

Plant A Row is a hands-on neighbors-helping-neighbors initiative, organized through 4-H and UNH Cooperative Extension.

Plant A Row aims to inform Granite Staters about food insecurity in NH, nurtures a giving mindset, and encourages participants to grow an extra row or an extra container with produce that will later be donated to a participating food pantry in Strafford or Rockingham County. This effort will directly benefit local food pantries and their patrons to offer more fresh and local produce and healthier choices.

When people pledge to plant an extra row as part of the program, they will be provided with a garden kit (fabric garden, row marker, sticker and colorful tote bag), growing tips, and other resources.

Participation is open to all ages, and participants don’t need to be 4-H members to sign up. Participation in this program is free.

More information about the program and how to register can be found HERE.

The first step in throwing away old paint is to first figure out what type of paint it is – water-based or oil based.

Water-based paint will be labeled “acrylic”, “latex”, or “water-based”. Another hint is that water-based paint can be cleaned off of hands with soap and water. Oil based paint may be labeled “gel paint”, “enamel”, or “oil based”. It has a strong smell, and can only be cleaned with mineral spirits or turpentine.

How to dispose of water- based paint.

If you have just a little paint: remove the paint can lid and let it dry out. Once dried, you can toss with your household trash.

If you have a 1/4 can of paint: add a drying agent like kitty litter, cardboard scraps, or sawdust to soak up the paint and let dry. Once dried, you can toss with your household trash.

If you have a 1/2 can of paint: layer paint with drying agents listed above in a cardboard box until it is dried. Once dried, you can toss with your household trash.

If you have a full or mostly full can of paint: as long as it has not gone bad, you can donate the paint to Habitat for Humanity. Find a location near you by calling 1- 800-422-4828.

How to dispose of oil-based paint.

Oil-based paint is considered Household Hazardous Waste and cannot be disposed of in household trash. Durham’s Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center accepts oil-based paint year-round. Please see an attendant for assistance.

Source: Northeast Resource Recovery Association

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee

Check us out on Instagram: sustainable.Durham.nh

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

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

Want to learn more about the Swap Shop? Click HERE

A barred owlet checking out his surroundings Courtesy, Tracy Schroeder

If you are a frequent viewer of anything DCAT, please note our new Live Stream & OnDemand website address which can be accessed HERE. Live meetings are now prominently displayed on the home page or can be accessed via the left icon entitled "Live."

Not only is this a new format, but it will allow for other changes which are being planned for the future including; Facebook LIVE, YouTube LIVE, Roku & Closed Captioning. 

If you have any questions, you can email DCAT Director, Craig Stevens at dcat@ci.durham.nh.us

The Durham Public Works Team partnered with over 200 students, teachers, and volunteers on Friday May 17th for the Oyster River Middle School’s annual Service Palooza event where students provided invaluable assistance helping to maintain several Town facilities including, the Living Shoreline at Wagon Hill Farm, planting annual flowers at the Town’s Main Street Traffic Roundabout and painting of the Durham Public Works snowplows. 

The Service Palooza event coincided nicely with the beginning of National Public Works Week, which is celebrated annually to share with the public the important role that public works plays in their daily lives: planning, building, managing, and operating at the heart of each community to improve everyday quality of life. The hard work from both the ORMS and Durham Public Works Team are very much appreciated, and we express our gratitude for their efforts!

WATER MAIN FLUSHING PROGRAM TO BEGIN MAY 20 - Hey, why is DPW letting water out of the fire hydrants all over Durham and at UNH?

The UNH/Durham Water System will begin hydrant flushing on Monday, May 20. Flushing activities will occur between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM daily Monday – Friday over the next two weeks. The flushing program helps to keep the water distribution piping clean and ensures the delivery of high-quality water to its customers. The process involves opening hydrants to create a higher flow velocity which scours the insides of the nearby pipes, stripping them of accumulated debris. Residents who use water during the flushing periods may notice a temporary discoloration. 

Main Street will be closed for two nights the week of May 27 (exact dates to be determined) in order to install a temporary bypass line across Main Street.

UNH Contractor, Charters Brothers Construction, is erecting construction fencing at the corner of Main Street and Pettee Brook Lane to prepare for a utility piping replacement project that will cross Main Street. Construction will occur through late August. This is short-planned emergency replacement project to replace heating lines that were found to be in failure in March.

Two parking spaces on Pettee Brook Lane will be closed for the duration of the project and several parking spaces on Main Street will be closed in July and August. Every effort is being made to keep traffic flowing smoothly and minimize disruption to residents. Signage and message boards will be installed to notify drivers and pedestrians of the work. A flagger will be at the site to receive trucks from the Pettee Brook Lane to the construction area.

In July and August, the traffic lanes will shift, and lanes will be narrowed, but two-way traffic will remain possible. There will be limited road closures of 1-day or less required in order or deploy, relocate and recover, jersey barriers to separate the work area from the traffic. Traffic details will be provided during any lane closures. 

Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible. This schedule is subject to change without notice due to weather, mechanical issues, and other conditions.

Culvert Reconstruction Update

Durham Public Works’ contractor, Severino Construction, Inc. remains hard at work on the Madbury Road over Littlehale Creek culvert rehabilitation project. An extension of the culvert and headwall reconstruction on the culvert’s downstream side was completed over the last few weeks in preparation for a roadway shift during a later phase of the Madbury Road Complete Streets Project. In-road stormwater collection system upgrades will be the focus over the next few weeks, with this specific project slated to conclude during the middle of June. This schedule is subject to change without notice due to weather, mechanical issues, and other conditions.  

Water and Sewer Replacement – Phase 1

Durham Public Works and its contractor, Joseph P. Cardillo and Sons will begin utility construction on Madbury Road during the week of May 27. The phase 1 utility project involves the replacement of water distribution and sewer collection mains and laterals. The base bid includes 8” water main, water appurtenances, and water service replacements on Madbury Road from the intersection of Garrison Avenue. Also included is sewer main replacement from 47 Madbury Road extending Southerly to Garrison Avenue, and sewer main replacement and rehabilitation from Mathes Terrace South to Main Street, inclusive of temporary and permanent pavement patches, and turf restoration. 

Additional work extends the water and sewer main replacement onto Madbury Court. This work includes the replacement and upgrade of the existing undersized water main, water appurtenances, water services, sewer mains and services, road reconstruction, and turf restoration. Also included is bid alternate B, which is subject to available funding, and adds additional water main replacement on Madbury Road from the intersection of Maple Street South to the intersection of Davis Court, and sewer main replacement at 57 Madbury Road.

The roadways will be restricted to one lane in the work area with alternating traffic between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM.  Access to adjacent residences, businesses and institutions within the work areas will be maintained at all times. Disruptions to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic are expected to be minimal however we ask that the commuting public seek alternative routes if possible and allow additional time to reach their destinations.

This schedule is subject to change without notice due to weather, mechanical issues, and other conditions.

BULKY WASTE PROGRAM UPDATES – A Reminder from Durham Public Works

In lieu of the curbside collection portion of the Spring Bulky Waste Program, Durham Public Works is offering an annual bulky waste coupon to each residential property. This coupon, which is available at Durham Public Works only, will allow the property owner to dispose of up to one dump trailer-sized load of bulky waste per year free of charge and at their convenience during normal public open hours at the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center. Property owners with smaller vehicles will be eligible to make multiple trips during the same day equivalent to a dump trailer-sized load utilizing the coupon to dispose of their materials. As they have in the past, certain electronics and refrigerant containing devices would still require a $15 sticker for disposal.

LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL WEEK IN NH CONCLUDING TODAY

In accordance with the President Joe Biden’s proclamation, Governor Chris Sununu directed flags on all public buildings and grounds in the State of New Hampshire to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Sununu has also proclaimed the week of May 12-18 as Law Enforcement Memorial Week in the State of New Hampshire. You can view a proclamation from the Governor by clicking HERE.

Members of the Durham Fire Department recently had the opportunity to practice their high angle rope rescue skills with a training exercise at the new UNH water storage tank on McDaniel Drive. Working in conjunction with UNH Facilities and the contractors building the water storage tank, the fire department was allowed to utilize the storage tank for a high angle rope rescue drill exercise.

Department members were presented with a “victim’ at a height and had to climb to assess the victim and then come up with a plan to lower them to safety. 

This type of training is in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1670 standard and is invaluable training in preparing fire department members for similar situations. 

A special thanks to UNH Facilities, Consigli Construction Company, and DN Tanks for providing this training opportunity!  

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 and guardians 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 #20

Walking or riding a bike or scooter.

ALWAYS MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH DRIVERS OF CARS BEFORE CROSSING THE ROAD.

By making eye contact you know the driver of the car will see you. Also give them a THANK YOU wave for allowing you to cross. 

At a special celebration of service for outgoing ORCSD Superintendent of Schools Jim Morse on May 16, 2024, the Oyster River Cooperative School District announced that it had named the Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall the Morse Recital Hall in honor of Superintendent James C. Morse, Sr. who is retiring in June.

The District wanted to recognize and celebrate Superintendent Morse's 12 years of dedicated service to the Oyster River community and his steadfast support of the arts.

The announcement was made by School Board Member Brian Cisneros during the ceremony held in the concert hall yesterday afternoon. The ceremony also included a wonderful musical medley performance by students, a video collage of individuals thanking Dr. Morse for his service, and some very thoughtful remarks by different speakers.  

We sincerely appreciate all of Dr. Morse's contributions to the ORCSD and to the towns of Durham, Lee, and Madbury during his tenure with the district.

NEWS FROM THE OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

ORCSD Spring Concerts and Events

• May 21, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. High School Band/Guitar Ensemble, Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall
• May 29, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Band-a-Palooza, Oyster River Middle School Athletic Field
• May 30, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Mast Way School Annual Art Show, Mast Way School
• June 3, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Middle and High School Chorus Concert, Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall

Congratulations to Maeve Hickock, the Student representative to the school board, for being selected as a Seacoast Student of the Week! Wednesday was also Maeve’s last meeting with the board as she is graduating and moving on. Maeve’s insight and experience have been a tremendous asset to the board, and the board would like to wish her good luck! 

No School May 24 and 27

All ORCSD schools will be closed for a Teacher Workshop Day on Friday, May 24. ORCSD schools and the SAU office will also be closed Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day.

Parking Restrictions at the ORCSD District Office

Parking at the SAU and Service Building during business hours is by permit only (36 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). Student drop-off is not permitted during business hours.