Friday Updates - October 15, 2021

Friday, October 15, 2021

Photographs of these beautiful double rainbows in Durham were recently taken by two different people in two different locations. The photograph on the left was taken by Bernie Casey as he was driving on Route 108 on the Durham-Dover line. The photograph on the right -- the new Oyster River Middle School under construction -- was taken by Jennifer Dubois, ORMS Custodian.

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Halloween trick-or-treating in Durham takes place October 30th from 5 - 7:30 PM.

COVID-19 UPDATE FROM DURHAM

The NH Department of Health and Human Services reports 50 active Covid-19 cases for the Town of Durham as of October 15th. UNH is tracking a positivity rate as part of it’s ongoing universal testing program of .38%, which is very good. Compare this to the State of NH 7-day test positivity rate of 6.5%. Yesterday, 620 new positive Covid-19 cases were detected across NH. At the present time,54.6% of NH residents are fully vaccinated against the disease.

BUDGET DEVELOPMENT STATUS UPDATE WITH TWO WEEKS TO GO BEFORE FORMAL SUBMITTAL OF PROPOSED BUDGET TO TOWN COUNCIL

Business Manager Gail Jablonski and Admin. Selig have spent much of this week reviewing the draft FY 2022 budget -- line by line -- and after taking into careful consideration all that they have learned in meeting with each department/committee, etc., making reductions they believed to be prudent to meet the Town’s needs and also to fulfill Council goals to the best of their ability within available resources and dynamics (a flat non-tax base revenue stream, a relatively flat tax base with little new development on the near term horizon and/or such development projects facing opposition from portions of the community, etc.).

Several positions (or personnel costs driven by a full year with a position for 2022 versus a partial budgeted year in 2021) were requested by departments to include:

GIS (full year versus the ½ year we budgeted for 2021) - $58,185
Asst. Town Engineer (full year versus partial year for 2021) - $30,074
New Parks & Rec. Asst. Director (FT) - $95,015
Asst. IT Position (FT) - $100,000
Fire Inspector position (FT) restored from reduction in 2020 - $110,900
Police Officers #20 & #21 for a full 12 months (versus partial year budgeted in 2021) - $91,000
Library IT additional funding for additional technology support resources
Anticipated retirements and planned overlap within positions for seamless transition training purposes.

Some numbers being actively evaluated at this point in time...

The approved 2021 Operating Budget was $16,963,700. The budget requested for 2022 by departments, boards, committees, commissions, external groups (i.e, ORYA, McGregor, Strafford County dispatch services, external social service groups, etc.) before Admin. Selig’s cuts began was $18,163,700. This represented a $1,200,000 increase in requested spending for 2022 -- a spending increase of 7.07%.

Estimated FY 2022 revenues looking fairly flat at around $7,783,700.

Valuation increase looking very modest at around $1,263,095,781, an increase of around only $9,000,000 or .72% over 2021.

Before the Team began to make cuts, we were looking at an estimated 2022 tax rate of $9.03, an increase of $1.17 or 14.84% over 2021. This is obviously untenable and we’re working to make reductions. Some of the topics discussed will entail Business Manager Jablonski reaching back out to some departments/committees to obtain additional clarification/information.

We have another two weeks to get things trimmed down (expenditure requests) and fined tuned (revenue projections & est. tax base) for presentation to the Council on Nov. 1st.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for U.S. City Average has increased 5.4% since September 2020. For The Northeast the CPI change is 4.6%.

Stay tuned for more details in the future.

MILL POND DAM ON OYSTER RIVER – Referendum petition submitted to Town Clerk this week with 1001 signatures.

Following careful study, engineering analysis, public feedback, and thoughtful statements by each member of the Durham Town Council, the Council acted Monday evening, 9/13/21, by a vote of 7-2, to move forward with dam removal of the historic, head of tide Mill Pond Dam on the Oyster River. Councilors Kitty Marple, Sally Needell, Al Howland, Sally Tobias, Carden Welsh, Jim Lawson, and Chuck Hotchkiss voted in the majority. Councilors Wayne Burton and Dinny Waters voted in the minority.

The following action was approved by a roll call vote of 7-2:

“The Durham Town Council, upon recommendation by the Administrator, does hereby approve the Final Design Contract for Alternative # 5 - Dam Removal to Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. for the sum of $284,226 and authorizes the Administrator to sign said contract with the monies coming from Account #07- 2185-801-36-000 and #07-1784-800-36-000.”

The meeting and discussion can be viewed on DCAT On Demand, Channel 22, or on line HERE. You can click on the last agenda item and the replay will begin at the start of the actual Council deliberation.

On Tuesday of this week, Oct. 12th, petitioners delivered 1001 signatures to Town Clerk Lorrie Pitt relative to seeking a referendum petition intended to reverse the Sept. 13th decision of the Town Council. This weekend, Town Clerk Lorrie Pitt and Deputy Town Clerk Rachel Deane will go through the process of determining whether at least 750 of the signatures are registered voters. If so, the referendum petition would be certified triggering the need for scheduling a special town election no sooner than 30 and no later than 90 days thereafter.

Read an article from NH Public Radio on the petition submittal, HERE.

IF THE PETITION CONCERNING THE MILL POND DAM ON THE OYSTER RIVER IS ULTIMATELY CERTIFIED, IS THERE A WAY TO HOLD A REFERENDUM AT THE NEXT SCHEDULED ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION ON MARCH 8, 2022 VERSUS AN ADDITIONAL SEPARATE DATE?

Because of legitimate pandemic-related difficulties on the school side with our gaining access to the polling venue at the Oyster River High School within the “no sooner than 30 and no later than 90 day” timeframe for a referendum petition election, and concerns Admin. Selig has about pulling the community together en masse unnecessarily as Covid-19 cases continue to roil across the state, Mr. Selig been endeavoring to problem solve whether it would be possible for the Town Council to take some action to enable the referendum question to be taken up at the March 8, 2022 Town Election versus at a special election before then. This also takes into consideration the additional cost for hosting such a special election, challenging logistical issues for the Town and the ORHS, the potential of needing to cancel a day of school at ORHS, and public health concerns such a special election would entail given the continued presence of Covid-19.

Specifically, Admin. Selig telephoned Town Counsel Walter Mitchell on Thursday to discuss the possibility that if the Council were to vote to rescind its Sept. 13th action, it could then take one of the following alternative steps:

1. It could vote a new approval of the VHB contract, this time with the qualification that the vote shall not be effective until at least following March 8th, and acknowledge that the referendum petition received (if ultimately certified by the Town Clerk) will be treated as applying to this new vote, with the only difference being that the vote on the March 8th special ballot will include this new date of approval (whatever date that ultimately was) instead of September 13th; or,

2. It not take a new vote to approve the contract at this time and, instead, decides to put its own election article before the voters, which would say something like “Are you in favor of the Council approving the proposed contract with VHB for removal of the Mill Pond dam.” If the Council goes in this direction, this would only work if the Council in advance reassures the town that it will be bound by the outcome of the vote. The Council, of course, would also have to subsequently vote to approve the VHB contract per our purchasing procedures.

Attorney Mitchell believed either approach would be valid and workable should the Council opt to move in one of these directions.

Mr. Selig shared these ideas with the lead referendum petitioner, Jeffrey Hiller, to see if he had any feedback as well. He let Mr. Selig know that finding a way to have the referendum on March 8th (the date for the annual Town Election) would be desirable/optimal if possible.

This could, at the Town Council’s discretion, be a topic the board considers/discusses this Monday evening, Oct. 18th, when will also presumably know whether the petition has been certified by Town Clerk Lorrie Pitt.

Note, a Town Councilor who voted in the majority of the Sept. 13th motion would have to move reconsideration of the vote.

l: Dam inspection from 2021

r: Dam inspection from 2019

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS COMPLETED DRAW DOWN/REINSPECTION OF MILL POND DAM ON OCTOBER 13TH WITH VHB AND PARE CORP

The Department of Public Works completed a minimal drawdown of the Mill Pond and re-inspection of the dam this past Wednesday. This work was part of the previous feasibility study contract with VHB/Pare Corp and had been planned for many months. This work was necessary and provides the Town with important information on the condition of our dam infrastructure, regardless of whether Durham ultimately pursues dam repair or dam removal on the Oyster River.

A complete dam inspection report will be provided by VHB/Pare Corp in the coming weeks.

The Mill Pond Dam was last inspected in December of 2019. The pictures above (unfortunately not taken from the same precise angle) show the progression of significant structural deterioration of the concrete, primarily on one of the ribs nearest the gate structure. The concrete in the area of deterioration around the hole shown is no longer solid - it is punky and you can easily pull out stones with your hand. There is rebar exposed and water was witnessed flowing from between the rib and the bottom of the spillway in the area of a joint.

Questions and comments should be directed to Town Engineer April Talon at (603) 868-5578, or email atalon@ci.durham.nh.us

DID YOU KNOW?

Part 2

Many of your old phones are packed with components containing rare metals that are difficult to find and pull out of the ground. Once those components wind up in the landfill, there’s no easy way to recover them, so the limited supply we already have shrinks even further.

Last week we shared creative ways you can re-use your old smart phones. This week we will talk about ways you can recycle your old phones.

RECYCLE RESPONSIBILITY.

If your old cell phones run too slow, barely hold a charge or are in some way damaged, they might be past the point of being useful again. In that case, it’s time to consider recycling them. Just remember: Old Cell phones shouldn’t go in the recycle bin any more than they should go in the trash. Instead, consider the following:

Transfer station: Bring them to the transfer station. When you arrive, drop them off at the Swap Shop. The attendants at the Swap Shop will collect the cell phones and give them to our local Rotary Club. The Rotary Club sells them to a recycler for money that goes to projects in Durham.

Databases: You can also tap into databases like the one run by Earth 911 to find local recyclers that would be willing to accept aging and unusable cell phones for recycling.

Big-box stores: Best Buy lets you bring your aging tech into certain stores — from there, it gets sent to the company’s recycling partners, which will see if it can be repurposed before breaking it down. Staples’ recycling program works very similarly. Meanwhile, Office Depot and Office Max will sell you a box you can fill with old tech and bring it into a store for shipment and recycling by a third-party.

Apple will accept its own products for recycling, and in some cases will give you a credit that can be applied to new purchases.

Source: The Washington Post

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee

VIRTUAL INPUT SESSION REGARDING DURHAM'S CLIMATE ADAPTATION MASTER PLAN CHAPTER - VIA ZOOM

A virtual input session has been scheduled for residents to share their feedback on Durham's climate adaptation master plan chapter on either Thursday October 21, 2021 from 4:30 - 6PM OR Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 8:30 - 10AM.

The Town of Durham is preparing for impacts from hotter temperatures, flooding from more intense rainfall events, and rising sea levels. At this public input session, you will have an opportunity to discuss the draft recommendations addressing climate change impacts on a variety of issues - from critical infrastructure and natural resources to local economy, public health, energy, housing, and more. Your feedback can help Durham prioritize recommended actions to build resilience to these impacts.

View registration information HERE.

IT’S BUDGET SEASON, SO PLEASE EXCUSE THE DELAY IN MR. SELIG FOLLOWING UP ON EMAILS, VOICEMAILS, LETTERS, ETC.

Budget season is upon us in Durham and as such, Administrator Selig is actively working with the Business Office and our various department, boards, committees, and commissions in formulating a proposed budget for consideration by the Town Council. By Town Charter, Mr. Selig has until the last business day in October to propose a budget to the Council. The Council then has until the last business day in December to adopt a budget of its own, or the Administrator’s proposed budget becomes the FY 2020 budget by default.

At this time of year, Mr. Selig is in constant budget meetings, in additional to normal responsibilities, and as such responding to correspondence and calls/inquiries, is typically delayed. Urgent matters should be sent to the attention of Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry, jberry@ci.durham.nh.us

JOIN THE FALL 2021 COMPOST CHALLENGE - Sponsored by the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee (IWMAC), Town of Durham Department of Public Works, and Durham Parks and Recreation

Looking for a small way to make a big difference in our community? Composting is an excellent way for you to be a part of fighting back against Climate Change in our community and our world! Learning to compost is a great way to teach your kids the importance of being sustainable. Sign up for our next Durham Compost Challenge!

October 16 - November 20

View details about what you can compost HERE.

Challenge participants receive a compost bin and compostable bags. Participants are asked to weigh each bag of their compost and household trash and keep records to report weekly. You may choose to compost the organic waste in your yard, have it picked up by Mr. Fox, or drop it off at the Transfer Station. Register for the Challenge with Durham Parks and Rec. The registration fee is $10.00.

Have questions? Contact Julie Kelley at ricjulkelley@comcast.net

8TH ANNUAL STRAFFORD COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARM STYLE BREAKFAST - THIS COMING SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17TH

Please Join us for the annual Farm Style Breakfast Fundraiser, this fall sponsored by the Lee Agricultural Commission!.

IMPORTANT CHANGE OF VENUE!!

The annual Farm Style Breakfast Fundraiser, usually held at the Jeremiah Smith Grange Hall in Lee in the spring, will be held on Sunday, October 17, 7:30-11AM, AND HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE LEE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX ON GEORGE BENNETT ROAD IN LEE, NOT LITTLE RIVER PARK AS PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED due to a forecast for possible rain.

Proceeds will not only benefit the Strafford County Farm Bureau " Youth in Agriculture Grant Program", which provides scholarships or grants to youth interested in pursuing further education in the field of agriculture or funding youth agricultural projects, but proceeds will also be used by the Lee Agricultural Commission for agricultural outreach and community projects.

Come for a great breakfast (as usual!) and eat inside the conference room at the Safety Complex, tables outside (if the rain stops, the sun should come out!) , or take out.

The menu:

French toast and plain, blueberry, and pumpkin buttermilk pancakes with crushed strawberries, blueberry sauce, rhubarb sauce, pumpkin whipped cream, maple syrup toppings

Scrambled eggs

Strata ( eggs, bread,sausage, onions, cheese all baked like a casserole... yum!)

Home fries

Corned beef hash

Bacon

Breakfast sausage

Baked beans

Fresh fruit salad

Orange juice, tea , coffee, milk

$12 adults, $8 kids under 14. Cash or check only.

Please wear clothing appropriate for the fall weather in case you want to enjoy the meal outside.. .( We ordered a sunny morning!)

All Parking will be next to the Safety Complex on Stevens Field. Handicap access only will be at the front of the Safety Complex building.

If you can't make the breakfast, but would like to donate specifically to the "Youth in Agriculture Grant Program", please send checks to Strafford County Farm Bureau, c/o Ruth Scruton, 504 Meaderboro Rd, Farmington,NH 03835.

Thank you for your consideration and understanding, and if you can't make the breakfast Sunday, hope to see you again in the spring of 2022 at the Jeremiah Smith Grange Hall!.

BUCKTHORN BLITZ WORKDAYS! - Oct. 17TH, 20TH, AND 21ST

Volunteers are needed to help remove invasive species from Durham’s Thompson Forest and Doe Farm Preserves to help native woodland regeneration. We have partnered with Nature Groupie to schedule three workdays during the month of October. Join Durham’s Land Stewardship Coordinator Tom Brightman, and Ellen Snyder of Ibis Wildlife Consulting to help pull buckthorn from the preserves.

Dates and Times:

Thompson Forest Preserve: October 21st from 2-4 pm.

Doe Farm Preserve: October 17th from 1-3 pm, and October 20th from 2-4 pm.

Get all the details for each date, and sign up (space is limited) on the Nature Groupie website HERE.

DRIVEWAY PAVING SCAM IN DURHAM - BE AWARE

Durham Police are warning residents to use caution and report unusual activity following several residents reporting that a paving crew allegedly tried to scam them. Durham police are cautioning people not to fall for a common bait-and-switch scam in which a promise of cheap driveway paving through the use of “extra asphalt” turns into an expensive fraud.

Chief Kelley urges residents to contact the Durham Police Department at 603-868-2324 if they see suspicious or unusual activity in town, or if they’re unsure if someone attempting to sell something door-to-door is legitimate.

LAMPREY RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FALL 2021 NEWSLETTER

The Lamprey River Advisory Committee's fall Newsletter is now available and can be viewed HERE.

FULL-TIME RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE COLLECTION EQUIPMENT OPERATOR NEEDED

The Town of Durham in New Hampshire’s seacoast region is one of the most beautiful and desired locations in the State and is home to the University of New Hampshire. The Durham Public Works Department, a recognized leader in the Public Works field, is fully integrated and progressive using modern equipment and facilities to achieve its goals. The Department is seeking a highly qualified team member to join an exceptional team of Public Works professionals to serve in the role of Recycling and Solid Waste Collection Equipment Operator.

The successful candidate will undertake meaningful and challenging work involving the collection, transportation, and final disposal of municipal solid waste and recycling in an effort to achieve the Town’s sustainability goals while protecting public health. In this versatile and exciting role, you will report to the Operations Manager and Assistant Public Works Director.

This full-time position offers excellent medical, dental, life, and disability coverage, paid time off, and eligibility in the State of New Hampshire retirement plan. Salary range for this position is from $22.30 to $25.15/HR, depending upon qualifications.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of (2) years of experience in operating commercial vehicles and related equipment. Applicants will have a current State of New Hampshire Class B Commercial Driver’s License or out-of-state equivalent. The successful candidate will also possess an NHDES Solid Waste Operator License or the ability to obtain within (6) months of hire. This position requires strenuous physical work, emergency response on a 24/7 basis for winter storm events and performing work in adverse weather conditions.

Applications and a more detailed job description are available at the Department of Public Works Main office or online at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs.

Please send resume and cover letter to Town of Durham, Department of Public Works, Attn: Janice Richard, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to jrichard@ci.durham.nh.us by 4:30 PM on October 8th, 2021.

THOMPSON FOREST PRESERVE NATURE WALK - Sunday, October 17, 2021 from 9-11 AM

Discover the Durham's Thompson Forest Preserve with Land Stewardship Coordinator Tom Brightman. This casual walk will wind through meadow, young successional forest, and older woodland areas. Tom will describe how the property is being stewarded, and discuss various flora and fauna along the way. Please wear good walking shoes. Rain or shine (other than a heavy downpour or threat of thunderstorms). Please RSVP by October 16th to Tom at stewardship@ci.durham.nh.us Parking will be at the Thompson Forest Preserve parking lot on Wednesday Hill Rd. Space for parking is limited, so please carpool if possible.

DURHAM JOINS COMMUNITY POWER COALITION OF NH TO BRING MORE ELECTRIC POWER CHOICES TO RESIDENTS

At the September 27th meeting, the Durham Town Council unanimously approved joining 13 other NH communities in the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH). CPCNH was formally incorporated and recognized by the State Attorney General at a ceremony in Concord on October 1, and has appointed its first slate of operating officers. Durham has selected Nat Balch (Chair of the Energy Committee) as primary, and Todd Selig as the alternate representatives on the Board of Directors to represent their community’s voice in the new organization, which will operate with open meetings according to the NH Right To Know law.

How will this organization affect Durham’s residents? The purpose of CPCNH is to unite the voices and purchasing power of the member communities in the electric power marketplace, to provide lower cost and greener purchasing options for power to their residents. The initial member communities represent more than 210,000 residents, or 15% of the population of NH, and is similar in size to Liberty Utility, New Hampshire Electric Coop, and Unitil power distribution utilities. In the coming months the Durham Energy Committee will continue to update the town residents with the CPCNH’s progress, and will be reaching out to the community with information, and requesting your input on what types of choices people would like to see for electric power plans. The full text of the CPCNH press release can be found at http://www.cpcnh.org/

LAST CALL FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY! – Morning of Saturday, October 23, 2021

The 2021 Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held at the Dept. of Public Works facility located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive on Saturday morning, October 23, 2021. As in the past, all hazardous waste will be collected by appointment only between 8 – 11:30 AM. To register, you must call the Dept. of Public Works at 603-868-5578 or email publicworks@ci.durham.nh.us. THE MAXIMUM COLLECTED PER HOUSEHOLD IS FIVE GALLONS.

NO EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS, RADIOACTIVE WASTE, ASBESTOS, SILVEX OR INFECTIOUS/BIOLOGICAL WASTE WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Consider reducing your purchase of products with hazardous ingredients; read labels thoroughly. Use and store products containing hazardous substances carefully to prevent any accidents at home. Never store hazardous products in anything other than their original containers and never remove labels. Never mix HHW with other products. Incompatible products might react, ignite, or explode, and contaminated HHW might become un-recyclable. Remember to follow any instructions for use and disposal provided on product labels. NOT ACCEPTED AT HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY – LATEX AND OIL BASED PAINTS, MOTOR OIL, AND ANTI-FREEZE. These items can be brought to the Transfer Station with your permit throughout the year. Latex paints must be dried out first--motor oil, anti-freeze and oil based paints can go to the Transfer Station as-is. Typically, hazardous waste is categorized as toxic, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise hazardous. Please check the manufacturer’s label.

Common Household Hazardous Waste

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWNS TO PHASE OUT EASYPARKUSA SERVICE

The in-vehicle parking payment device EasyPark that works with Dover, Durham, Manchester and Portsmouth parking systems will be phased out by the end of the year. Existing customers have the option of adding funds to their EasyPark device until December 31, 2021.

New Hampshire municipalities that had EasyPark are phasing out the devices due to decreased use. Sales of new EasyPark devices ended earlier this year.

After December 31st, on-line and phone support will no longer be available. No annual or monthly service fees will be charged once the account is closed by the customer. When deciding how much to add for the final reload, users should understand that the device can only hold approximately 30 parking sessions in its memory. Users will be unable to download the memory once the on-line support is no longer available and no refunds will be issued.

EasyParkUSA will be alerting New Hampshire subscribers to the program's end via their account emails.

For more information, contact the Durham Police Department at (603) 868-2324.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - DPW is still interviewing for the Heavy Equipment Position that is currently open.

DPW is still interviewing for the Heavy Equipment Position that is currently open.

The successful candidate will undertake rewarding and challenging work involving the maintenance and construction of roads, sidewalks, and drainage conveyance systems to ensure the safety and functionality of the Town’s multi-modal transportation network. In this versatile and exciting role, you will report to the Operations Manager and Assistant Public Works Director.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of three (3) years of experience in heavy equipment operation. Applicants will have a current State of New Hampshire Class B Commercial Driver’s License or out-of-state equivalent. This position requires emergency response on a 24/7 basis, a rotational stand-by schedule, and performing work in adverse weather conditions.

Applications and a more detailed job description are available at the Department of Public Works Main office or online at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs.

FALL LEAF AND BRUSH CURBSIDE COLLECTION BEGINS ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH

All items must be out by 7am! During Fall Cleanup, Public Works picks up brush (natural material from trees) first followed by the collection of leaves. Fall Cleanup is separate from your regular curbside collection!

Leaves should be placed in paper leaf bags (remember, plastic bags are not recyclable and will not be picked up). Paper bags may be purchased at Aubuchon Hardware and stores such as Lowes or Home Depot. Loose leaves will not be accepted but may be brought to the Transfer Station & Recycling Center on Durham Point Road.
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.

All residents should have received the fall newsletter in the last week.

TRANSFER STATION ATTENDANT SOUGHT - PART-TIME

The Town of Durham is seeking a part time Transfer Station Attendant. The position is part-time with no benefits. Applicants must be comfortable dealing with public and have a Solid Waste Operators License, level 1 minimum or the ability to obtain license within 2 months of hire. Duties include checking in residents, ensuring materials are disposed of in proper locations, ability to operate a loader and skid steer, maintenance and cleaning of facility. Pay $14-$17/Hr based on experience. Hours will be Saturday from 7am-3:30pm, potential for more hours. Valid driver’s license, background check will be performed. Applications accepted until the position is filled.

Applications are available at the Public Works Office, contact: Janice Richard, Assistant to the Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824. Telephone 603-868-5578.

Click Here for DCAT 22 Programming & Video On Demand Info

TOWN OF DURHAM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ACCOUNTS

Did you know that the Town has a Facebook & Twitter account and frequently posts Durham & UNH news, happenings, and articles of interest in our area and the seacoast?

Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

NEWCOMERS UNLIMITED BEGINS THE SEASON ON OCTOBER 15TH

Newcomers Unlimited is starting the season on October 15, 2021 with a 9:00AM social, 10:00AM program in the Community Church of Durham, 17 Main Street. Marek Bennett will present a program titled, "Comics in World History and Culture". This is a NH Humanities Council and is open to the public.

Masks will be required per guidelines of the CDC and we will adhere to the policies of the Community Church of Durham regarding social distancing. Your health and safety are a primary concern. Call Brenda Sargent 868-7355 for more information. You do not have to be new to the community, that’s why we are Unlimited.

Click Here for Community Programs & Events

Durham Parks and Recreation, its Director and Committee, strive to offer a wide range of quality programs, parks, and facilities that encourage all community members to participate in healthy, fun, and enriching activities. Together, they celebrate the essential role public recreation plays in fostering a cohesive and vibrant community.

Click Here for all Parks & Recreation Events

Happy Halloween from DPL!

Stop by our table on Main St. at the Durham Parks & Rec. Downtown Trick or Treat on Sat. October 23rd! We'll be running the popcorn machine and have lots of treats and library info!

Looking for more treats? Trick or Treat at the Library and stay for Outdoor Halloween Movie Night on October 27th! Trick or treating will start at 6:00 pm, followed by the family movie at 6:30 and adult Halloween film at 8:00!

Register now for The Art of Networking or A Guide to Interviewing (for graduating high school and college students) live on zoom with employment expert Gary Gekow!

Meditative Yoga is back in person! Join us on Mondays at 10:00 am in the upstairs Oyster River Room at DPL in Nov. and Dec. Space will be limited so please register HERE.

Don't forget to sign up for our YA (ages 10 and up) programs including Drawing Monsters with Corinne Roberts! this week!

And get ready again for our Joint Library programs with Lee and Madbury featuring the McAuliffe Shepard Stellarium on Saturday, October 16th at 10:30 am. This program is generously sponsored by the Friends of DPL.

Questions? Check out our website at http://www.durhampubliclibrary.org/! And as always, the library staff is available by phone during business hours at 603-868-6699 or by email at mailto:durhampl@gmail.com.

Click Here For Durham Public Library Programs & Events

WEEKLY ARREST REPORT

*Academic year commences the third week of August through graduation at UNH in May.

HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL - A Brief History of Durham, NH 1600 - 1976 (A little volume that was the Heritage Project of the Durham Historic Association Bicentennial celebration)

Preface - "Since before God made the first little green apples, oysters have probably been growin in the Oyster River; and some of the largest and juiciest to be found anywhere in the world are still growing here today. The following vignettes from rollicking history of Durham town on the Oyster River are therefore presented between the shells of an oyster."

________________________

1785 - When there were 8 school districts there was no busing problem. By 1805 there were 10 districts and for the next 80 years the duty of providing teachers was imposed on a prudential committee in each district. Durham Point and Packers Falls school buildings still stand.

Have a good weekend. The trees are really just now starting to turn.

Todd

Todd I. Selig, Administrator

Town of Durham, NH

a: 8 Newmarket Rd., Durham, NH 03824 USA

t: 603.868.5571 | w: www.ci.durham.nh.us

He/him/his pronouns

Everyone can tackle climate change. How can you reduce your carbon footprint?

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