Friday Updates - October 17, 2025

Friday, October 17, 2025

Diwali is coming right up on October 20, 2025. Diwali, also called Deepavali or Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolizes the spiritual victory of Dharma (righteousness) over Adharma (unrighteousness), light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

Downtown Trick-or-Treat, sponsored by Durham Parks & Recreation, will be Sunday, October 26, from 2-4:00 p.m. See below for more info.

Yes, the State-wide burn ban is still in effect. Outdoor burning and smoking in/near woodlands, are prohibited due to high fire danger.

Churchill Rink has opened for the season! To see the skate schedule, click HERE.

And check it out! Durham Public Works’ annual Fall Newsletter is now available HERE.

TOWN HALL TO BE CLOSED THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 22 FOR STAFF DE-ESCALATION TRAINING

The Town will be holding an Emergency Preparedness and De‑escalation Training for staff members at Town Hall on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

• 8:00 – 9:00 AM – The Durham Police Department will meet with staff to review local logistics related to emergency preparedness at Town Hall.
• 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Representatives from Primex (the Town’s insurer) will lead a training session on de‑escalation techniques. This training provides participants with essential tools to recognize, assess, and respond effectively to aggressive behavior in professional environments. The session explores common triggers that lead to escalation, the stages of verbal and crisis continuums, and practical techniques for maintaining control and safety.

Town Hall will be closed to the public during this training.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY – October 25th at Durham Public Works

Durham Public Works would like to remind residents that the annual Household Hazardous Waste Day Event will be held on Saturday, October 25th. This event provides an opportunity for residents to properly dispose of certain common household hazardous waste products free of charge while protecting the environment. Please call Durham Public Works at 603-868-5578 for additional details. Pre-registration is required!

ANNUAL CURBSIDE FALL LEAF & BRUSH COLLECTION BEGINS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10 AT 7:00 A.M.

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.

We've received some feedback over the last month that this annual Town service should end. If you have thoughts about the matter, write to council@ci.durham.nh.us.

The Town of Durham, in conjunction with Whitney Consulting Group, LLC, has completed an update of all residential property values for the 2025 tax year. These updated assessments are based on real estate market activity over the past several years and are intended to reflect each property’s estimated market value as of April 1, 2025.

For residential property owners, if you have not received it already, you will receive notice of your new assessment by mail in the coming days. Commercial valuations are still in progress and notices will be mailed shortly.

DO NOT apply the current tax rate to your preliminary assessed value. The new tax rate will be set in the coming month by the NH Department of Revenue. The new tax rate will be adjusted based on the new total value of the Town. Often when property values go up across the board, the tax rate goes down.

This statistical revaluation process helps ensure a fair and equitable distribution of the property tax burden by aligning assessed values with current market conditions.

The last town-wide revaluation was conducted in 2023. Since then, the real estate market -- particularly residential -- has continued to experience significant appreciation. Durham’s preliminary residential property assessments have increased on average by 22% across all strata. This can further be broken down into the different residential strata, improved residential properties have increased on average by 21%. The waterfront properties within this stratum have seen a more drastic increase ranging on average from 21-65%. The condominium properties have increased on average by 22% and residential land has increased on average by 55%. All commercial property valuations are still in progress.

Further information regarding the preliminary results of the residential portion of the statistical revaluation can be found on the Assessing page of the Town of Durham’s website HERE. Please note that the Assessor’s Online Database, located on the website, which is hosted by Vision Government Solutions, will not be reflective of the preliminary property assessment. Once values have been finalized and approved, this database will be updated. To obtain a copy of the updated information on your property please call the office at (603) 868-8064.

If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss the 2025 preliminary assessed value, please call Town Hall at (603) 868-8064. Please remember the individuals answering the phones will be scheduling appointments and will not be able to answer questions about your property. Your appointment may be conducted in person or on the telephone at your preference. Appointments are still available on October 21st, and 23rd.

A well-attended public hearing was held Thursday night to discuss increasing safety at the intersection of US Route 4 and Madbury Road in Durham. The planned project will construct a hybrid roundabout. The hybrid roundabout will replace the existing traffic signals and consists of two lanes on US Route 4 in each direction and one lane on Madbury Road in each direction. The proposed work will extend approximately twelve hundred feet in each direction along US Route 4, and approximately six hundred feet in each direction along Madbury Road. A ten-foot-wide multi-use path will also be constructed along Madbury Road to match the Town of Durham’s Madbury Road Complete Streets project. The project will include pedestrian crossing accommodations at the US Route 4 and Madbury Road intersection.

To see a recording of the public hearing, click HERE. More information on the project can be found HERE.

Written statements and other exhibits may be submitted to the Chairman of the Commission, c/o Tobey Reynolds, Assistant Director of Project Development, NH Department of Transportation, PO Box 483, Concord, NH 03302-0483, or by email to Bureau50@dot.nh.gov until October 27, 2025, for inclusion in the official record. 

CHAIRS OF BOARDS/COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS/TRUSTEES RECEIVED TRAINING THIS WEEK

Thursday evening also saw the Chairs of Durham's Boards/Committees/ Commissions coming together at the Durham Public Library for an updated orientation training to help them in their positions as chairs.

The training began with a presentation by Sergeant Mike Nicolosi and Sergeant Carrington Cazeau on how to handle disruptive people in a public meeting.

Then Administrator Todd Selig took some time to go over the role and responsibilities of a Chair, public meeting logistics, and answered questions from the participants.

The evening ended with a round table discussion and sharing of information about what each group has been working on to increase understanding and awareness across boards.

ELECTION CLARIFICATION - Durham does not have a November election

Many cities and larger towns have their local elections in November, but not Durham. Durham does not have another election until the Town/School election on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. 

However, anyone who is not yet registered to vote and will be 18 by March 10, 2025, is more than welcome to register to vote 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.’

Colors of fall. Courtesy, Todd Selig

CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO HOLD PUBLIC SESSION ON WETLANDS AND SHORELANDS PROPOSED ORDINANCE 

The Conservation Commission has prepared a new draft ordinance pertaining to wetlands and shorelands in Durham.  The proposal will combine separate wetlands and shorelands ordinances into one overlay district and make numerous changes to the existing requirements. 

The Conservation Commission is hosting a public session in Council Chambers in Town Hall on Monday, October 27, starting shortly after 7:00 pm where it will present the proposal and engage interested members of the public with any questions and comments. 

You can see the proposed new ordinance and related materials HERE. The Planning Board will start its review of the proposal within the next few months.

NHDOT AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILORS HOLDING PUBLIC HEARING ON TEN-YEAR PLAN

NHDOT and the Executive Councilors are holding a public hearing on Thursday, October 23, at 10:00 a.m. in the Durham Town Council Chambers on the State Ten-Year Plan.

New Hampshire RSA 228:99 and RSA 240 require that the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) propose a plan for improvements to the State's transportation system every two years.

The purpose of the Ten-Year Plan is to develop and implement a plan allowing New Hampshire to fully participate in federally supported transportation improvement projects as well as to outline projects and programs funded with State transportation dollars.

For more information on the Ten-Year Plan, click HERE.

[Editor's note: This is a duplicate from last week in case people missed it! The only new information is that we've been evaluating whether parking in the downtown area could be reconfigured to both encourage a broader mix of downtown renters beyond simply the college demographic and maximize revenue where possible. Several landlords downtown have noted this fall that they have vacancies, that they have shown the vacant units to prospective non-student tenants, but that the prospective renters declined because there was no associated parking -- and these adult all have at least one car. Parking permits downtown now for around $1,200 per space. As such, we're evaluating, among various configurations, whether it makes sense to move business permits from 66 Main Street back to the Pettee Brook metered lot ... and then make the spaces there, spaces along Garrison Extension, and spaces on Strafford Ave. (a total of 70 spaces!) available for overnight year-round use. Beyond that, we're not making progress on driving down expenses (as requests are justified and simply represent the status quo). The local (Town-only) portion of the projected tax rate increase for next year (using pre-statistical revaluation update data) stubbornly remains just over 17%. For every savings identified, we've encountered a new expense. For example, property/liability insurance rates will increase by around $66,000 next year largely due to regulatory changes at the state level.]

Mr. Selig and Business Mgr. Gail Jablonski have been meeting over the last month+ with each of the Town’s department heads and members of their departments to better understand budget requests, as well as departmental CIP requests. Members of the Town Council were invited to these meetings and in numerous cases between one and four Councilors were able to sit in. 

One of the Town’s Council’s approved goals for FY 2025-2026 states: "The Council, Administrator, local Boards, and Departments will work collaboratively to broaden and diversify Durham’s tax base as the primary strategy for maintaining a stable municipal tax rate, adjusted over time for inflation using the Boston-Cambridge-Newton CPI-U and trends in construction and labor markets. This includes promoting taxable business development in the commercial core, guided by smart growth principles and at key locations such as Technology Drive and Stone Quarry Drive. It also involves partnering with UNH on economic development projects like The Edge at West End and potentially 66 Main Street. At the same time, we will continue to manage spending and reserve levels prudently, increase non-tax revenues and external grant funding where possible, and make the strategic personnel and capital investments necessary to support the ongoing delivery of high-quality services for residents and businesses.”

Per Town Charter, the Administrator is charged with the development of the annual budget and CIP program. The proposed annual budget must be submitted to the Town Council by the last business day in October. The Town Council by Charter then has until the last business day in December to adopt a budget or the budget submitted by the Administrator becomes the budget of the Town by default.

The requested CIP projects were presented/discussed with the Planning Board on Sept. 24. You can watch the Planning Board meeting HERE. Mr. Selig is now in the process of evaluating capital proposals and integrating (or not) into the CIP as part of his formal budget proposal by the end of October as described above.

As noted previously, it’s proving to be a challenging budget year for FY 2026 with a general lack of significant new taxable development in town, the potential for loss of federal and/or state funding, three union collective bargaining contracts (firefighters, middle managers, and AFSCME/DPW) expiring December 31, 2025 and in play, and a projected increase in health insurance costs of around 10%. 

In addition, we're confronted with general inflation and cost increases across the operation, UNH fiscal challenges and projected future student enrollment declines, and less interest earnings on investments. 

Requests for additional personnel or operational changes across departments include: 

• two additional firefighters, 
• an additional part-time fire admin. asst., 
• an additional part-time accreditation manager at police, 
• potentially contracting out solid waste/recycling collection at DPW, 
• moving the land stewardship coordinator from part-time to full-time, etc.

There was a one-time use of around $420,000 in undesignated fund balance to stabilize taxes for FY 2025 that cannot be sustained indefinitely to future budget cycles. 

Two weeks ago the Town also received notice from SchoolCare, one of our health insurers covering two separate employee groups, that around $30 million will need to be collected in October/November across all participating NH public employers to rebuild reserves – Durham’s share of which is around $126,000 in a year in which the Council previously paired back the Town’s contingency fund from the historic $125,000 to $50,000 as a FY 2025 cost savings. 

In terms of the General Fund operating budget alone, departmental requests have come in reflective of a $2,280,064 increase (or 17.42%) over FY 2025. Please note this is before any reductions have been made by the Administrator.

Mr. Selig has spent about five hours this week, both during the day and in the evenings, carefully reviewing the proposed operating budgets across all operations. During this time, he made a number of adjustments across various budget lines. Many of his initial ideas for larger changes were not feasible after closer review. Business Mgr. Jablonski has been working on things on her end as well – capital projects (which she and Todd discussed late-last week) and revenue estimates. Based on Mr. Selig’s cuts, Gail is in the process of sending questions, suggestions, and possible cuts to department heads, and Mr. Selig looks forward to receiving feedback provided for additional review next week. Total cuts Mr. Selig has suggested to date total around $557,225.

Due to significant capital bonded outlays associated with the recent Madbury Road water and sewer line replacement/repairs from 2024 & 2025, debt service increases will cause a jump in those respective budgets. Because the budgets are comparatively small versus the general fund, even small increase have large impacts. As such, largely consistent with last year's fiscal forecasting, the sewer fund rate is expected to increase by around 8% and the water fund is expected to increase by around 16%

One takeaway is that each department has done an excellent job preparing its budget. Requests are well justified, and the budgets contain little to no unnecessary padding. While Mr. Selig has to date unfortunately not identified the level of savings for which he was hoping, this process reinforces that Durham’s operations are efficient and funds are being used responsibly. 

The challenge ahead remains the lack of new revenue [expanded tax base] to offset natural increases in operational costs, and that is not generally an issue that the departments can solve. Indeed, in numerous respects the community has made many thoughtful decisions over the years that make it more difficult to expand the tax base in Durham, and such decisions have helped to ensure the character of the community has remained intact creating an attractive, inviting, sustainable, and highly desirable town.

Although it hardly seems possible, last week marked the 30-year anniversary of Administrative Assistant Jennifer Johnson’s dedicated service with the Durham Police Department. Jen’s journey with the department began as a police explorer, and after graduating from college, she joined the agency full-time as an Administrative Assistant.

Chief Rene Kelley describes Jen as the department’s “go-to person for all things—big or small.” Over the years, she has taken on a wide range of critical responsibilities that are essential to maintaining the agency’s professional excellence. Often one of the first to greet community members who visit the station or call by telephone, Jen plays a key role in shaping the department’s customer service experience.

Jen’s professionalism, organization, and commitment to service have made her an indispensable member of the department.

Congratulations, Jen, on 30 years of outstanding service to the Durham Police Department and the Durham community!

A group of UNH students from Erin Hardie Hale’s class at UNH is working with the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee to host a “Compost Challenge” for members of the Town Council, Town Hall staff who live in Durham, and several others. The data to be collected is for a UNH Sustainability capstone project and used by IWMAC to track Durham compost participation; all identifiers will be removed when this data is used. The 5-week program started last weekend. 

This Saturday, October 18, is the first weight submission day for participants’ organic and trash waste from the week (not recycling). Participants will complete a form to track weights and answer a few brief questions. 

Their trash and compost will be weighed on Saturdays. Some participants will bring their compost to the Transfer Station, some will use Mr. Fox, and others will undertake backyard composting. 

Mr. Selig asked the students this week how to address odor issues as the garage now smells a little like a stale restaurant! ;0)

Tip of the week: Compost can be smelly! It’s part of the process of food breaking down. The bins provided (see photo above) have openings for airflow to help dry out wet materials, however this allows odors to escape. If this is happening for you, we suggest keeping your compost bag/bin in the freezer to mitigate odor. This can be done in either the bin provided, or just the bag if that works better for the space in your freezer. 

The First Seacoast Bank, located in the Mill Plaza in Durham, is currently accepting donations of used eyeglasses (and cases), cell phones and iPads. The bank is working in collaboration with the Rotary Club and the Lions Club to help keep these items out of our landfill and put to good use.

The collected eyeglasses and cases will be used by the Lions Club as part of their Recycle For Sight program. These glasses are shipped to a recycling center, where volunteers clean, sort, and repair them to prepare them for distribution to people in need around the world. Eyeglasses that cannot be reused are recycled for scrap, and the funds benefit local Lions projects. 

The Rotary Club holds regular electronics recycling fundraisers to support their community and scholarship initiatives. 

To help support these important clubs, you can bring your donated items to the bank. Collection boxes can be found in the lobby. 

First Seacoast Bank 

7A Mill Rd

Durham, NH 

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.

Invasive plants are non-native species (which have not been naturalized) that spread aggressively, out competing native vegetation and disrupting local ecosystems.

In Durham, common invaders include oriental bittersweet, Japanese knotweed, glossy buckthorn, burning bush, autumn olive, multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, and phragmites, which threaten wetlands, riverbanks, and forest edges.

These species can reduce biodiversity, degrade wildlife habitat, and adversely impact water quality. A plan to identify and manage them is vital for protecting Durham’s natural resources and the health of the ecosystem. A list of invasive plants is maintained by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food and can be seen HERE.  You can also learn more HERE.

Join the Agricultural Commission for a sheep shearing demonstration on Saturday, October 26 from 9am – 11am at Great Bay Wool Works at Liberty Hall Farm, 62 Bennett Road.

Award-winning shearer Jay Mariacher will be shearing, and attendees are welcome to assist with preparing the shorn fleeces for the spinning mill. Family friendly and rain or shine but space is limited so please call or text Theresa Walker at 603-534-3913 if you would like attend.

DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION HOSTING PROGRAM ON NH ART AND ARTISTS

The Durham Historic Association is hosting a special program, "Granite State Gallery: New Hampshire Art and Artists through the Years." This program takes place on Sunday, November 2 at 2 p.m. in the Durham Town Council Chambers. The presentation will explore what makes art from New Hampshire unique, examining works by itinerant and folk painters, landscape artists inspired by the state’s scenic views, and modern artists who used bold styles to depict daily life in the Granite State. Notable artists such as Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Childe Hassam, and Maxfield Parrish will be discussed. Light refreshments will be served.

The program will be delivered by Jane Oneail, founder of Culturally Curious, an arts education consulting firm that specializes in art appreciation programs. Jane holds a Master's Degree in Art History from Boston University and a Master's in Education from Harvard University. A native of New Hampshire, she has worked with esteemed organizations such as the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as executive director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she was a senior educator. She has also taught at the college level for more than a decade, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University.

Sergeant Craig Forrest and Officer Allen Hatfield take a moment to show some school spirit and support the Oyster River High School boys' soccer team, who extended their undefeated streak to 12-0! Come out and support your incredibly talented local teams! Courtesy, Durham Police Dept.

Recently, Officer C.J. Young and K9 Jett completed a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) certification program facilitated by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The CIT program is a nationally recognized training designed to equip law enforcement officers with advanced skills and strategies for effectively responding to individuals experiencing mental health crises. Through classroom instruction and realistic role-playing scenarios, officers learn techniques to de-escalate situations safely, communicate with empathy, and connect individuals with appropriate mental health resources.

The Durham Police Department remains committed to providing the highest level of service to all members of our community. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our priority is to ensure every response is safe, compassionate, and supportive.

JETT is growing so fast! In the spring we shared a picture of him as a small puppy.

Attend this upcoming hybrid meeting on Tuesday 10/21/25 from 6-7:30pm at Newington Town Hall or via Teams for an overview of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) research conducted within the Great Bay Estuary and New Hampshire’s coastal waters.

This hybrid presentation is hosted by the Environmental Health Program at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, with participation from state agency staff and local university partners. The goal of this session is to share ongoing research efforts towards PFAS occurrence, scope of these investigations and to give researchers an opportunity learn more about community concerns.

Register to attend virtually HERE.

ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION PRESENTATION - Please Note - Location for Event has changed!

The Active Retirement Association (ARA) announces a FREE presentation, “What Next? A Look Ahead to the November 2026 Midterm Elections,” featuring Dante Scala, PhD, professor of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire. Scala, a noted author and nationally recognized political analyst, will offer a preview of the upcoming midterm elections and an assessment of the political landscape during these tumultuous times. Please note that the location for this event has changed from last week's Updates. The event will take place on Monday, October 20, 2025, from 2:00 – 3:30 PM, at the Community Church of Durham (Fellowship Hall), 17 Main Street, Durham, NH.

This presentation is FREE and open to the public; preregistration is not required. Light refreshments will be served so come and bring a friend! Donations of non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items, and cash for area food pantries will be gratefully accepted.

The ARA is an all-volunteer organization for people ages 50 and over, whether retired or not. Originally begun by and affiliated with UNH, it currently has 325 members from New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and beyond. The ARA is committed to expanding the world of its members by offering lectures, workshops, discussion groups, cultural tours, walks/hikes, member interest programs on demand (PODs), and much more. For more information visit www.aranh.org, or to inquire about membership write to arainfo1982@gmail.com. Come join us and expand your world!

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

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Coming Events

Moharimet School is hosting its annual Pumpkin Stroll on October 23, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Guests will be invited to enjoy a whimsical stroll while admiring students' carved pumpkins.

Mast Way School's annual Spooktacular celebration will be on October 24, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Schools News

• Two Oyster River High School seniors, Benjamin Boodey and Jessica Li, were named semifinalists by the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Three seniors, Lauren Pang, Geneva Ruml, and Anna Shuba were also commended by the organization. Learn more HERE.
• Oyster River High School FIRST Robotics team earned the Governor's Cup Finalist Award, a first in the team's history. Learn more HERE.
• Thanks to a community member, Mast Way School welcomed a new free little library. Learn more HERE.

Community Survey: ORCSD Wants to Hear From You!

The district launched a new Elementary Projects webpage HERE. This is where all information related to Mast Way and Moharimet schools' construction and renovation projects will be published moving forward. On this new page, you may notice a survey. This survey is open to all Oyster River community members. Additional capital planning information is also available on our Capital Planning page HERE.

ORCSD is Hiring Paraeducators

School district paras are essential to the successful delivery of programs for students. The district is seeking to fill full-time, benefit-eligible positions to join our Special Education team. Consider joining us to help students reach their full potential. Apply today HERE!

Transportation Information 

The ORCSD Transportation team is hiring! If you or someone you know would like to drive a van or a bus, please contact Director of Transportation Trisha Daley at 603-868-1610 or by email at tdaley@orcsd.org. Additional details are available HERE.