Friday Updates - November 7, 2025

Friday, November 7, 2025

In the news this week covering the recent heist at the Louvre, it turns out the security system password there was ... "LOUVRE". Oh my! Note to self: Change Town password from DURHAM. ;-)

Town Offices and the Durham Public Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, for Veterans' Day. There will be NO CHANGES to curbside pickup next week.

If you missed the presentation "Granite State Gallery: New Hampshire Art and Artists through the Years" hosted by the Durham Historic Association this past Sunday, you can watch it HERE.

There are many activities listed in this week's Friday Updates! Be sure to click on the AgendaHero button at the end of the Updates to get a listing of all activities in chronological order to add them to your digital calendar.

RAYMOND A. LaROCHE SR. TRANSFER STATION AND RECYCLING CENTER CLOSED ON VETERANS’ DAY

Durham Public Works originally scheduled the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center to be open during normal business hours on Tuesday, November 11. Due to resource constraints and given that the day falls on a Town observed holiday (Veteran’s Day), the facility will be CLOSED. There will be no changes to the facility hours on Saturday, November 8 and November 15. Please find the updated schedule HERE.

TOWN COUNCIL PASSES RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING NOVEMBER 29 AS "SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY"

At the November 3 Town Council meeting, a Resolution was passed "Proclaiming November 29, 2025, as Small Business Saturday in Durham." A copy of the Resolution can be seen HERE.

The Town Council urges Durham residents to support small businesses by considering shopping at these establishments on Saturday, November 29, and all throughout the holiday season.

At its November 3 meeting, the Town Council continued discussion on possible changes to building height standards in the Limited Height Section of the Central Business-1 District.

Following input from Town Planner Michael Behrendt and retired UNH Campus Architect and resident Doug Bencks, the Council voted 8–1 to recommend that the Planning Board move forward with a 10-foot setback for the fourth story on buildings with flat roofs, as suggested by Mr. Bencks.

The Council also endorsed establishing building height limits of 32 feet to the eave of a three-story building and 42 feet to the top of a four-story building. Councilors felt these recommendations balance the goal of supporting downtown redevelopment while maintaining the scale and character of the area.

The Planning Board will review the proposed zoning amendments and hold a public hearing on the changes in the coming weeks.

Sunrise over the Oyster River Courtesy, Mary Ann Esposito

ANNUAL CURBSIDE LEAF AND BRUSH COLLECTION BEGINS THIS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10 AT 7:00 AM

During this curbside collection program, Durham Public Works crews collect brush (natural material from trees) first followed by the collection of leaves. It is important to note that this program runs independently from the regular curbside solid waste and recycling collection.

Leaves must be placed in paper leaf bags (plastic bags are not recyclable and will not be picked up). Paper bags may be purchased at Aubuchon Hardware and stores such as Lowe's or Home Depot. Loose leaves will not be accepted but may be brought to the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station & Recycling Center on Durham Point Road during public open hours.

• Brush should be placed in one direction, bundled and tied with string (no wire please). 
• Brush and limbs must be no greater than 5 feet in length and 5 inches in diameter. No stumps will be accepted.
• The amount of brush and limbs is limited to ONE TRUCKLOAD PER HOUSEHOLD.
• Cutting off small limbs from branches will help maximize each load.
• Remember, backyard composting of your leaves and brush reduces the flow of waste, while at the same time, produces valuable organic matter for the soil. It improves your soil and the plants growing in it.

TOWN RECEIVES “CLEAN AUDIT” REPORT FOR FY 2024 - Council heard from external auditors this past Monday evening. 

The Town has received a clean audit for FY 2024. The auditors were complimentary about the diligent work of the team in the Business Office and our various Town departments. 

External audit firm Plodzik & Sanderson provided the Town Council with a report on Monday evening, Nov. 3rd. 

To review the FY 2024 year-end audit on the Town’s web site, click HERE

A neighborhood Halloween party Courtesy, Carol Birch

2025 FINAL REVALUATION VALUES – Town-wide average valuation increases by 20%

The Town of Durham, in partnership with Whitney Consulting Group, LLC, has completed the 2025 statistical update of all property values. These assessments reflect estimated market values as of April 1, 2025, based on real estate activity over the past two years.

Preliminary value notices were mailed in October with residential owners notified during the second week and commercial/non-student housing owners during the third week. Informal hearings were held throughout October. Final value notices have now been sent to all property owners whose assessments were affected, including those who participated in hearings. Final notices for student-housing properties will be mailed next week.

Do NOT apply the current tax rate to your new assessed value. The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration will establish the new tax rate later this month. When overall property values increase, the tax rate typically decreases.

This revaluation ensures fair and equitable distribution of the property tax burden by aligning assessments with current market conditions. The last town-wide revaluation occurred in 2023, and the real estate market, particularly residential, has appreciated significantly since then.

Average changes in property value by category:

• Town-wide average: +20%
• Improved residential: +21%
• Waterfront residential: +21–65%
• Condominiums: +22%
• Residential land: +55%
• Commercial, non-student housing: +20%
• Commercial student housing (including mixed-use, fraternities, sororities): 0% 

If property owners believe their final assessment does not reflect fair market value, they may file an abatement request with the Town by March 1, 2026.

Preliminary results and additional information are available on the Assessing page of the Town website at www.ci.durham.nh.us/assessing. The online database hosted by Vision Government Solutions will be updated only after all values are finalized.

For assistance or updated property details, contact the Assessing Office at (603) 868-8064.

OPPORTUNITY NEXT WEEK TO REGISTER TO VOTE

Anyone who is not yet registered to vote and will be 18 by the Town/School election on March 10 is encouraged to register at the town hall any time the Town Clerk’s office is open (not on Wednesdays). The Supervisors of the Checklist also have a session scheduled for registration and changes to their registration on Thursday November 13, 2025, from 7:00 - 8:00 PM at the Town Hall. There will be other Supervisor Sessions before the March election which will be announced later. The ORCSD Deliberative session is early in February. This is not considered an election, but you cannot vote at that meeting unless you are registered.

Applicants for registration must bring with them proofs of identity, age (18 by the next election), U.S. citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Affidavits are no longer accepted. The list of proofs currently accepted, especially for domicile, is rather complicated. A NH Driver’s License or Non-Driver’s License with your local address is the easiest thing to bring for identification, age, and proof of domicile in Durham. However, it does not prove citizenship, even if it is a Real ID, so you must bring another document for that.  If you are unsure of what is necessary and what will be accepted, please call the Clerk’s office at 603-868-5577 or check the Secretary of State’s website HERE and click on the link ‘Registering to Vote in New Hampshire.’

On November 6, 2025, at approximately 4:29 PM, the Durham Fire Department responded to a reported building fire on Colony Cove Road in Durham, NH. A 911 caller reported smoke emanating from the residence, potentially originating from electrical service equipment near the meter. Occupants were directed to evacuate and remain outside the building.

While en route to the scene, the Durham Fire Deputy Chief requested a first alarm to be transmitted due to the remote location of the incident and rural water supply considerations. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a smoldering fire between the electric meter and electric service panel within a wall and floor of the home. Firefighters stretched a hose line, conducted an interior search, and cut open an exterior wall and building floor to quickly extinguish the active fire.

Crews remained on scene for a period to ensure that the fire had not extended into concealed areas and that the fire had been completely extinguished. There was smoke, water, and physical property damage to the building resulting from the fire. No injuries were reported by the property owner or responders. The cause of fire is still under investigation and appears to be electrical in nature.

The Durham electrical inspector assisted by isolating the electrical service to the home and Eversource Energy was notified and responded to address the utility infrastructure for safety. Mutual aid partners responded from the surrounding communities of Barrington, Dover, Exeter, Lee, Madbury, Newmarket, and Somersworth. The Strafford County Communications Center was the primary dispatch agency and McGregor EMS provided emergency medical services on stand-by for the incident.

The incident concluded and all responding units were clear by 6:30 PM. Successful mitigation of the emergency is credited to the immediate availability and response of the five on-duty personnel and two chief officers who responded from the fire station, and six off-duty members who responded to the station. The Durham Fire Department thanks its members and all mutual aid partners for their swift response and assistance. 

Admin. Selig has provided the Town Council with the proposed FY 2026 budget, as required by the Town Charter. The package covers all operating funds—General, Water, Sewer, Library, Parking, Depot Road Lot, Churchill Rink, and Downtown TIF—as well as a ten-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that includes the Capital Fund budget for FY 2026.

The proposal reflects a careful balance between limited resources and funding priorities. The budget lines up wherever possible with Council goals while maintaining the service levels our community expects, as well as adapting to evolving needs. As with communities across the country, we continue to manage rising public sector wage demands, inflation, increased healthcare and energy costs, and a particularly stagnant local tax base due to lack of new construction. This has led to a “status quo” approach that aims to keep Town operations running efficiently and reliably.

Departments started the process by submitting responsible, lean budgets over the summer. The Business Manager and Admin. Selig reviewed each line, working to ensure that every request was justified and reflected the real needs of our boards, committees, commissions, departments and partner organizations. The approach focused on cutting waste, seeking new efficiencies/innovations where possible, and aligning spending with Town Council goals. This allows Council members the flexibility to prioritize big-picture issues affecting Durham.

It’s important to note that this year’s 2025 property revaluation statistical update is still underway. For now, our budget assumes a modest increase for tax year 2026 (not, we’re currently in tax year 2025)—about 0.5% or $9.5 million—in assessed values using last year’s data. Without future growth in the tax base, new operating efficiencies, or significant non-property tax revenue, Mr. Selig once again emphasizes it will become increasingly difficult to keep the tax rate growing at or below inflation without service reductions. This reality is reflected in the FY 2026 proposal.

On the revenue side, we’re facing a projected drop in non-tax General Fund revenues by $1.2 million, or about 10%. The Council used $442,000 from reserves last year to artificially soften the tax impact for 2025, but this is not sustainable and consequently isn’t included in the FY 2026 plan. Two major one-time projects—the Bickford/Chesley House restoration and Madbury Road Complete Streets—were also paid from fund balance last year, so those funds will not recur in 2026. Overall, revenues are also impacted by reduced state and federal support, though there is a projected $84,000 increase through a new year-round downtown parking pass program for local renters (converting the use of around 70 spaces at 66 Main St. and on Dennison Rd. for rentals ideally targeted for workforce renters who seek to live downtown but require parking for their vehicle in order to do so).

We continue to receive annual compensation from UNH for policing services (about $150,000) and partial coverage of costs related to Main Street upkeep. UNH also funds 50% of Fire Department operations and capital needs, and a significant share (around two-thirds) of water and wastewater projects, as outlined in our longstanding partnership agreements. 

Abatement costs are a real concern in the coming year, with reserves set to cover cases from recent litigation and property appeals. The contingency fund is increased from $50,000 to $100,000, though this remains well below historical norms and represents less than one-half of one percent of the total budget — not much margin for error.

Personnel costs remain our largest expense—about 62.7% of all spending. Including debt service and required expenditures, fixed costs make up over 75% of the total budget!

For FY 2026, the proposed General Fund budget is $22,449,335, down $282,566 (1.24%) from last year. However, if you back out last year’s use of unassigned fund balance, actual spending increases by about $1.89 million (9.2%). Key budget drivers include $837,000 in anticipated personnel costs (with three union contracts up at year end), $807,000 more for debt service, and the absence of last year’s supplemental fund balance contribution totaling $442,000. The budget also reflects a 3% COLA for non-union personnel, a 16% increase in health insurance, adjustments for energy and materials costs, and the usual mix of departmental requests.

The Consumer Price Index for our region (Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH) went up 3.2% from August '24 to August '25.

Based on these factors, the municipal portion of the tax rate for 2026 (which will not be established until November 2026) is projected to rise by $1.07—an increase from $5.95 to $7.02 per thousand dollars of assessed value, or 18.02%. For a $500,000 home, that means about $535 more per year. More background on tax rate trends is included in the complete packet.

With a few exceptions, this is otherwise a status quo operational budget:

• The Code/Zoning Officer and DCAT Coordinator positions are reduced to part-time (saving $46,000 and $54,000 respectively).
• The Land Stewardship Coordinator moves to full-time (35 hours/week) as of April 1, 2026 ($26,000 increase).
• A new part-time (24 hours/week) CALEA Coordinator is added to the Police Department starting in July 2026 ($17,000 increase).
• Outsourcing of solid waste curbside collection is proposed as of July 2026, with a preliminary cost increase of $70,000 now under review. 

The proposed ten-year Capital Improvement Plan (FY 2026-2035) is also available for review. Mr. Selig recommends reviewing the implications of projects, especially those impacting the 2028 budget year.

 Additional highlights:

• The Water Fund will require a 3% increase in user fees ($11.25 per hundred cubic feet).
• The Sewer Fund reflects a 4% increase in user fees ($11.08 per hundred cubic feet).

All details are available in the FY 2026 budget book, the 2026-2035 CIP, and a supplemental information booklet—each available online or in hard copy at Town Hall and the Durham Public Library. These documents can be found on the Town’s web site HERE.

A beautiful tree on Ryan Way Courtesy, Lori Mendelsohn

UPDATES FROM TOWN DEPARTMENTS

The Library is doing well with beautiful newly constructed sidewalks on Madbury Road and upcoming exciting events including a humanities program and Friends Fall book sale.

Durham Public Works is preparing for winter maintenance by contracting with Rye Beach Landscaping for parking lot services - staffing shortages at DPW will preclude Durham forces from undertaking this work in-house this winter. 

For the Assessing Dept., the Town is planning a second CAMA (one of our software programs) update for the 10th, and 2025 tax rate determinations may be delayed due to the ongoing revaluation update, potentially pushing the billing due date to early-January.

Parks & Rec. Dir. Rachel Gasowski outlined upcoming community events including Feather Fest and Frost Fest, while also evaluating the need for expanded street closures during future downtown trick-or-treat events.

Town Clerk/Tax Collector Rachel Deane reported this week that the fourth billing for water and sewer has been sent out, noting an increase in questions from residents about higher bills, largely due to increased usage during drought conditions (watering grass, etc.). She reported on changes at the NH DMV, including a switch to appointment-only operations and upcoming state fee increases for vehicle registrations. Rachel also attended the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks Association conference last week, where she learned about personnel changes at the Secretary of State's office and connected with new contacts to collaborate on election-related educational initiatives.

IT Manager Luke Vincent reported on the new Town website refresh project through the Town’s current vendor, Civic+, which is expected to be completed by June next year. Luke also discussed cybersecurity improvements at the wastewater treatment plant and mentioned attending a cybersecurity summit in Tilton.

Business Manager Gail Jablonski has been busy working on next year's proposed FY26 budget and working with the external auditors at Plodzik & Sanderson assisting them bring the FY24 year-end audit to completion. 

Admin. Selig shared his observations and takeaways from the ICMA Annual Conference in Tampa a week ago, highlighting the city's public art, streetscape, and infrastructure. He noted the presence of electric vehicles and charging stations, as well as the city's efforts to balance development with maintaining a human-scale downtown. There were takeaways concerning homelessness, the Port of Tampa & economic development, Todd also discussed the challenges faced by Dunedin, FL during recent hurricanes and the city's approach to debris management and cleanup. There were some great sessions as well re: leveraging technology to enhance community engagement & efficiencies, smart growth, etc. 

Durham has been selected to be part of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s upcoming Municipal Equality Index, which evaluates communities around the nation for their approach to LGBTQ+ inclusion through local laws, policies, and services. This selection puts Durham among more than 500 cities reviewed annually, reflecting our community’s continued attention to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. 

The HRC is in the process of finalizing each town/city's scorecard, and once the index is published later this fall, we’ll share final results with the community. This ongoing process underscores Durham’s commitment to fostering safety and respect for everyone who calls our town home.

Durham Public Works and our contractor, Milestone Construction, are in the final stages of the rehabilitation of the Bickford-Chesley House at Wagon Hill Farm. This project includes first-floor exhibit space, improvements to the barn for three-season use, fire protection and life safety, restrooms, structural repairs, and full occupancy of the second floor, which will be suitable for full occupancy and caretaker’s quarters. 

Remaining work includes pouring a concrete floor in the basement of the barn, finishing wood floors in the house, completing miscellaneous touch-up painting, installing appliances, and constructing exterior stairways and an accessible entry ramp. Substantial completion is scheduled for the end of this month.

The Durham Police will be partnering with the Oyster River chapter of End 68 Hours of Hunger for a food drive on Friday, November 14, 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM at the Hannaford in Durham. End 68 Hours of Hunger is a nonprofit that helps fight childhood hunger by providing food to local kids who might otherwise go without meals between school on Friday afternoon and breakfast on Monday morning when they return to class – that’s where the “68 hours” comes from. To learn more, click HERE.

Officers will be on site to provide shoppers with lists of necessary donation items and help to collect them once they are purchased. The need for donated food is extremely high right now, so any help will be gladly accepted.  

The Durham Police Department, in collaboration with Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, is hosting a Food Drive beginning Friday, November 7 through Wednesday, November 12! All donations will support the Cornucopia Food Pantry at the Waysmeet Center. Requests are for only non-perishable food items or toiletries at this time.

Items may be dropped off at the Durham Police Department any time before Wednesday, November 12. Your generosity helps support local families in need — thank you for your continued support, Durham!

A NOTE FROM THE SWAP SHOP

The Swap Shop welcomes your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah holiday items starting on November 1st. The Swap Shop will not be accepting any Halloween items starting on November 1st. We do not have the ability to store items for a year. Please save them for October 2026. 

The Swap Shop is not open for Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day, or Easter. Please do not bring items for these holidays. Consider taking your items to Savers or another organization taking holiday items.

Please remember to bring items that are CLEAN, have all of their parts, and are in working condition.  Ask yourself whether you would give this item to a friend or family member in its current condition.

The Swap Shop will close for the winter season on December 13th.  We will not be accepting any large items after December 6th. The Swap Shop plans to reopen in early April. Go to https://swapshopdurham.wordpress.com/ to find locations for your reusable items throughout the year.

Approximately 1 billion pounds of pumpkins are sent to U.S. landfills after Halloween each year, where their decomposition creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In landfills, pumpkins produce methane because they break down without oxygen, a process that is extremely damaging to the environment.

This year, instead of tossing your pumpkins and other Halloween decorations like corn husks and gourds/squashes in the trash, consider composting them! (Make sure to remove any paint, wax, or stickers first). The Durham Transfer Station has compost bins available. Even better, you can leave pumpkins/gourds at the edge of your property for a few days first to let wildlife eat what they want before composting them.

Sources: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Waste Dive

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

As autumn arrives, many local species, from frogs and salamanders to overwintering insects, seek shelter in leaf litter, brush piles, and native vegetation. By leaving leaves in garden beds and along wooded edges of your yard, you’re providing essential habitat for these creatures to hibernate safely. Avoid raking into a pile, bagging, burning or dumping leaves in natural areas, including wetlands. Composting, skipping pesticides, and postponing leaf management until the Spring are all great ways to care for the local wildlife. 

SECOND FALL DISCOVER DURHAM'S TRAILS IS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16

The second fall Discover Durham's Trails walk "Agroforestry in Action" is Sunday, November 16 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Thompson Forest.

Join Steve Eisenhaure from the UNH Office of Woodlands and Natural Areas to tour the research areas of the farm and learn about the agroforestry project being implemented on the property.

Meet at the gate near Thompson Inn off Bennett Road. Register HERE.

Durham's Agricultural Commission member Bryan Cassidy is offering two hands-on workshops on broom making this Fall with Seacoast Permaculture. You can also find his brooms for purchase at Emery Farm and Tuckaway Farm.

The workshops are on November 22 and December 6 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Tuckaway Farm in Lee. You can register for the November 22 workshop HERE. You can register for the December 6 workshop HERE.

FOG – what is it? It’s an acronym that stands for Fats, Oils, and Greases, which can be the result of cooking, baking, and frying certain types of foods. From sauteing with vegetable and olive oils to sizzling the fat off a slab of bacon, fats, oils, greases are a byproduct of cooking in the kitchen.

Important Information for Residents: How should you properly dispose of FOG?

NEVER pour fats, oils, or grease down your drain. While it may still be in a liquid state after you’re finished cooking, FOG will enter your plumbing, eventually congealing and hardening up in the pipes. Overtime, this can cause blockages and backups, preventing sewage to leave your home, and could result in overflows and/or property damage – a costly headache no one wants to deal with. Worse still, these FOG blockages could enter the Town’s sewer system, creating larger overflows and sewage spills that could close roads, enter local waterways, and even threaten public health.

The proper place for FOG is in the trash can. If there is a small amount left in pan or dish, a paper towel can be used to wipe up the residue. If you have larger volume of FOG to dispose of, find a recycled container or jar, and fill it up with your used cooking oil, grease, etc. Then, simply toss it in the trash.

Important Information for Restaurants: All food service establishments (FSEs) within the Town of Durham are required to have grease traps. These grease traps should be properly maintained and cleaned regularly, as well as having logs/records verifying this, to ensure that these grease traps are functioning properly, and FOG is not being bypassed into the Town’s sewer system.

Over the next several weeks, the Durham Public Works and Code Enforcement will be visiting food service establishments to speak with restaurant owners and kitchen managers to confirm proper FOG collection and record keeping is taking place.

If you have any questions about inspections, please contact Durham Public Works, Wastewater Division Superintendent Matt Collins at: mcollins@ci.durham.nh.us. If you would like more information on FOG and FOG prevention, click HERE.

Officer Alexander Scopa and Officer Chloe Scott spent their Halloween afternoon on bike patrol in the very busy Bucks Hill neighborhood. They had a blast handing out candy to kids and representing the Durham Police Department for Trick-or-Treat!

Officer Young and K-9 Jett had the opportunity to join officers from the University of New Hampshire Police Department and their comfort dogs, at UNH’s “Dogs and Donuts” event on campus this past Wednesday.

The event featured complimentary donuts and doggy interaction, offering students a fun and stress-relieving break during their busy week.

K-9 Jett, who is now six months old and still in training, did an excellent job representing the department — Officer Young is proud to report that he was such a good boy!

This semester, Captain Lavoie was invited to Dr. Kate Gaudet’s class titled, “What is a Criminal?” The course focuses on several perspectives and references a collection of essays that Dr. Gaudet has edited, titled What is a Criminal? Answers from Inside the US Justice System. Captain Lavoie was able to share real-world police perspectives with the students and then answer a broad range of questions the students had based on those experiences. The class has motivated, highly intelligent students who ask thought provoking questions. In addition to having several other guest speakers, the class gets to visit places like the Strafford County House of Corrections to continue to gain perspective. 

Through Dr. Gaudet, several students were able to set up ride-alongs with various shifts and officers with the Durham Police. UNH Student Alexandra Columbus went on a ride-along with Officer Keith Letourneau. Officer Letourneau commented, “It has been a truly rewarding experience so far. The participants have been asking insightful questions, demonstrating a genuine curiosity about our operations here at Durham Police. Their engagement has been fantastic, and they are gaining a much clearer understanding of the complexities of a police officer's role.” 

Officer Letourneau is pictured with UNH student Alexandra Columbus. He is presenting her with a “challenge coin,” which is a small, custom-designed medallion that bears an organization's insignia or emblems. While the exact origins are debated, a popular story traces the tradition back to World War I when a wealthy lieutenant gave his unit members bronze medallions. Today, while still deeply rooted in military tradition, challenge coins have expanded to law enforcement, fire departments, government agencies, and even corporations and private organizations to boost morale and recognize accomplishments. The student ride-alongs will continue with Durham Police through next weekend.  

Mill Plaza owner, Torrington Properties, is making progress on renovations to the rear building and landscaping of Mill Plaza. Courtesy, Audrey Cline  

DISPELLING MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT OCD - Claire Carstens of Durham earns Girl Scout Gold Award for awareness project

If I had a dollar for every time I have heard my peers say, “I’m so OCD” because they like to color code their pens, I’d be rich,” said Claire Carstens.

Obsessive compulsive disorder can be a debilitating condition, which Carstens knows firsthand. She wants people to understand the struggle of OCD, so she created a series of videos that explain how intrusive thoughts play out, filming three videos and creating an animated video that further explores the topic and offers help. She has earned The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor for a Girl Scout in Grades 9-12, for her project, “I’m So OCD” – A Short Film Series on the Realities of Living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.”

Carstens spent over 210 hours on her video project, using friends as actors and relying on psychologist Rebecca Rouse to present accurate information. She has shared the videos with OCD New Hampshire and put them on YouTube for all to access. Her hope is that they will be available for training sessions and educational activities.

The videos include a wide range of topics, including juxtaposing stereotypes of OCD with an example of the reality of living with the disorder, health anxiety and persistent doubts that lead to the urge to check things repeatedly, and intrusive thoughts about contamination that interfere with a person’s daily life. 

Carstens graduated from Oyster River High School last spring and was part of the National Honor Society. Currently she is a freshman at Macalester College in Minnesota where she plans to major in anthropology because she is interested in learning more about who we are as humans, how we have functioned in the past, and how that connects to current social issues. 

To view Carstens' videos on OCD, click HERE.

Oyster River Seniors of 2026 need your help in creating a safe and memorable night for them!  Project Graduation is an annual all-night event created to promote a safe, substance-free evening for ALL graduating seniors.  

How you can help… 

• Buy a Holiday Wreath, HERE, to be available the first week of December (delivery available for Durham, Madbury, Lee and Barrington residents)
• Make a Tax-Deductible Donation by January 15, HERE
• Sponsorship with promo opportunities for your own business, a local business, your employer. Contact us at orhspg@gmail.com to share your interest in/idea for a potential sponsor, and to receive our sponsorship info 
• SHARE all of these opportunities with friends, family & fans of our seniors

Thank you for helping to give them a special night they deserve! We appreciate you! 

The Oyster River and Newmarket High School girls' lacrosse team is holding a fun lacrosse clinic on November 22 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Oyster River High School. Anyone from the surrounding communities is welcome! All skill levels are welcome! To register, click on the QR code above or click HERE. 

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Planned November School Closures

• November 11: All Oyster River schools and the SAU office will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.
• November 26-28: All Oyster River schools will be closed for Thanksgiving Break. The SAU office will be closed on November 27-28.

Mast Way and Moharimet Capital Plan Update

On November 5, the ORCSD School Board decided to move forward with the proposed expansion and renovation project at Mast Way and Moharimet schools and present the proposed schools’ expansion and renovation project for voters’ consideration in March 2026.

The district's guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for this project, which cannot be exceeded, is $9,827,000. The district is gathering the data required to determine tax rate impacts for each town. The district expects to have this information available in the coming weeks and will communicate it promptly. All information is made available on the district's Elementary Project webpage HERE as it becomes available.

The ORCSD School Board meeting schedule is available here. Agendas and minutes are available HERE. Meetings are livestreamed on the ORCSD Streaming channel which you can access HERE, and previous meeting recordings are made available on the ORCSD YouTube channel which you can access HERE.

School News

Moharimet School Teacher Named 2026 Teacher of the Year by Agriculture in the Classroom - Physical Education Teacher Jessica Whalen was named 2026 Teacher of the Year by New Hampshire Agriculture in the Classroom. Agriculture in the Classroom is a state-level recognition program offered in partnership with the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Extension’s 4-H program. You can read more HERE. Congratulations, Jess!

ORCSD Schools' Health Offices Share Resources for Families

Oyster River families in need of assistance can contact their school nurse or counselor for confidential support. The resources listed by each school can help families locate food pantries, community programs, and essential services, just click on the school link below.

• Mast Way School
• Moharimet School
• Oyster River Middle School
• Oyster River High School

Behind the Scenes: Meet the Heart of Our Cafeteria

Every school day, while students settle into their morning routines, a dedicated team is already hard at work in the cafeteria, transforming fresh ingredients into the nutritious meals that fuel our students' learning. An article written by a Mast Way School staff member in appreciation of the school's cafeteria team can be seen HERE.

Oyster River High School Celebrates Red Ribbon Week

Oyster River High School (ORHS) students and staff came together during the last week of October to observe Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest drug-use prevention program, which aims to inspire youth to make positive choices and stay drug-free. To learn more, click HERE.

Coming Events

November 10, 9:00-10:00 a.m. ORMS Veterans Day Breakfast

Oyster River Middle School (ORMS) invites local active and retired service people to join them for a breakfast celebration. Please RSVP HERE.