Friday Updates - October 24, 2025

Friday, October 24, 2025

Did you know the state fruit in NH is the pumpkin?!

Staff in the Administrator’s Office and Business Office have been busy beavers in the final stages of budget preparation for FY 2026. An initial presentation of the Administrator’s proposed budget is scheduled for the Council meeting on Nov. 3. The public hearing will be held on Nov. 17th.  

UNH FAMILY WEEKEND IS THIS WEEKEND

The Durham Police Department is preparing for Parents' Weekend, expecting 20,000 attendees this weekend, which is double the number from Homecoming. They will deploy extra officers, State Police, and a sheriff's van with deputies for transportation.

Please plan for possible traffic delays in the downtown area of Saturday, October 25, 2025, with peak hours between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. UNH football will host William & Mary, at 1:00 pm on Saturday, however, tailgating starts at 9:00 am. Typically, the areas of Main Street at Mast Road and Main Street at Edgewood Road are heavily congested. You may also see traffic building up on Main Street, between the Post Office and Route 4. Please plan accordingly, as delays are expected. 

The Police Department is also planning to bring back a problem-oriented policing officer in mid-January, with a focus on addressing community concerns like speeding, etc. Additionally, they are dealing with staffing challenges due to military deployments.

HALLOWEEN TRICK-OR-TREATING SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 31

Last year the date for Halloween trick-or-treating in Durham, Lee & Madbury was changed to October 31. It seemed to go well, so it will be held on October 31 again this year. The time for trick-or-treating will be 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

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!

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.

A FEW UPDATES FROM THE DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Chief Emanuel reported this week on several fire department updates, including the swearing in of a new firefighter, Loran Sheley, (see below) and the implementation of 6-person shifts to two of our four shifts, which has resulted in cost savings due to reduced overtime. He mentioned that Michelle Patrick has started as the new Fire Department Administrative Assistant, and plans are in place to up-staff to 7 members for UNH Parents' Weekend.

Chief Emanuel also shared progress on facility improvements, including installation of long-awaited new overhead doors for the apparatus bays and installed hot water heaters, with pending mixing valve installation. The department is moving forward with renovation plans through the capital improvement program.

Fall colors at Wagon Hill. Courtesy, Lori Mendelsohn

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UPDATE

UNH Sustainability Fellow Sophie Goodwin and Admin. Selig reviewed updates to Durham's Climate Action Plan this week, including new sections on recycling initiatives and community resources, with plans to finalize the document and create a PowerPoint presentation by next Tuesday for presentation to the Town Council on Nov. 3.

Sophie and Admin. Selig discussed how to frame the plan's aspirational goals and the need for widespread community-wide participation in achieving carbon reduction targets if the plan is to be successful, while also addressing challenges with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and Global Covenant of Mayors' (GCOM) seeming lack of support for small municipalities. There was a decision to explore maintaining ICLEI membership for access to tools, while potentially leaving GCOM and considering conducting a greenhouse gas inventory this summer.

Join the Agricultural Commission for a sheep shearing demonstration on Saturday, October 25 from 9am – 11am at Great Bay Wool Works at Liberty Hall Farm, 62 Bennett Road. (Last week's Friday Updates incorrectly had the date as October 26.)

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.

Twenty years ago, Durham resident Julian Smith and two or three volunteers moved a large slab of granite from a ledge outcropping to the little town park overlooking the Mill Pond. A drill hole revealed that slab had been split from the ledge long ago but never removed.

Visitors frequently sit on this slab, which Julian likes to call the Pulpit Rock (although he has never seen a preacher using it ). Over the years, frost caused the once level slab to tilt about four inches from one end to the other.

This week Julian and his son Christian spent less than half an hour setting it level with a two-and-a-half-ton jack.

One of the best things you can do for wildlife, the environment, and even your wallet is to intentionally use the fallen leaves and other organic matter in your garden.

While we commonly call it yard "waste", fallen leaves are actually incredibly valuable habitat for wildlife and nutrients for plants. Making the shift to use your fallen leaves in your garden rather than throwing them out can be a simple change with lots of benefits.

Which species of animals use the fallen leaves?  

There is a multitude of wildlife species that need fallen leaves and other organic yard debris as habitat. Included in these species are:

• Fireflies
• Native wild bees (including bumblebees)
• Butterflies
• Moths (almost all moths depend on the leaf layer and 96% of backyard birds use moths as a primary food source)
• Salamanders
• Box turtles
• Eastern Red Bats

The National Wildlife Federation is recommending that people move their leaves to their garden beds whole. For tips and information on where and how to leave the leaves, please click HERE.

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

Black bears are elusive yet vital members of Durham’s forest ecosystem. These solitary mammals roam large, wooded areas, foraging for berries, nuts, and insects to build fat reserves before hibernation. As fall approaches, they become more active, so be sure to secure trash bins, avoid outdoor feeding, follow New Hampshire Fish and Game bird feeder guidelines (HERE), and give them space if spotted. By preserving connected forest habitats and reducing human-wildlife conflicts, we help black bears thrive as part of Durham’s natural landscape.

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.

Discover Durham Day at the Milne Nature Sanctuary and Hamilton Smith Memorial Chapel was a successful and well attended event! Thanks to Diana Carroll for giving a lovely presentation about the Milnes, and to Julian Smith for his contribution about the Memorial rock that sits in the center of the Sanctuary surrounded by native plantings.

Also, thanks to Carolyn Singer and Janet Mackie for getting the Hamilton Smith Memorial Chapel ready for the tour and educating everyone about the history of the building and family who generously donated it to the Town.

The next Discover Durham Day walk will be Sunday, November 16th at Thompson Farm to learn more about the forest management by UNH Office of Woodlands and Natural Areas.

K9 Jett learning how to meet new people as he is introduced to Fire Dept. Administrative Assistant Michelle Patrick at the Durham Town Hall on Wednesday morning (with Officer C.J. Young). Courtesy, Craig Stevens, DCAT Coordinator

Please join the Durham Fire Department in welcoming Loran Sheley to the position of Probationary Firefighter/EMT. Loran obtained his Firefighter I during high school. He began his fire service career in 2020 with the Chester Fire Department, where he obtained his firefighter II, EMT-B, and Class B CDL certifications. Loran graduated from Pinkerton Academy in Derry. He also attended Manchester School of Technology and New England EMS Institute.   

As part of the orientation process, Loran attended a recruit school led by Firefighter Dan Brothwell from October 6 to October 17, 2025. Loran is currently assigned to C Shift led by Captain Nate Katz. 

Loran was sworn in by Town Clerk Rachel Deane at the Durham Town Council meeting on Monday, October 20, 2025. The ceremony was attended by members of the Durham Town Council, Administrator Selig, members of the Fire Department, and Loran’s family. He was pinned with his probationary badge by his mother, Karen Sheley, and pinned with his collar brass by his girlfriend, Isabelle Buckley, and his father, Chris Sheley. 

If you see Loran around town, please feel free to say hello and welcome him to the community!

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Planned November School Closures

• November 4: All Oyster River schools will be closed for a Teacher Workshop Day.
• 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.

Elementary Project Capital Plan Update

On October 16, the ORCSD School Board discussed Mast Way and Moharimet schools’ expansion and renovation project. The full discussion is available on the district's YouTube channel HERE (starts 1:23:00 into the recording). During the meeting, Superintendent Shaps emphasized the historical priority of expanding the size and capacity of Mast Way’s cafeteria and the pressing need for additional classroom space at Moharimet. The project also includes the necessary renovation of inadequate spaces to ensure the appropriate delivery of instruction and support services, as highlighted in the space/program audit included in the December 2024 Facilities Assessment Report, which can be accessed HERE.

The administration and partnering construction management and architectural firms made several decisions to scale down the scope of work to ensure an overall project cost of less than $10 million. ORCSD's guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for this project is $9,827,000.

The next step in the process is for the school board to review and discuss financing options. Superintendent Shaps looks forward to sharing additional information as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, we hope you will consider completing our 2-minute survey HERE to help us communicate these capital plan initiatives. This survey is open to all Oyster River community members.

ORCSD Partners with UNH on Food Waste Study. 

The project, led by Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics students from UNH's College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, raised awareness about the environmental impact of food waste while giving students hands-on experience in sustainability efforts. Read the story HERE.

Coming Events

November 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Coffee House

Coffee House celebrates the quarterly launch of the award-winning student publication Mouth of the River. The $5 admission can be purchased at the door and is one of MOR's primary fundraising sources. Food and drink are included with admission. In the Multipurpose Room at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824).

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.

THE WHITE HOUSE EFFECT - A FILM SCREENING - An Important Climate Action History Lesson!!

The Carsey School of Public Policy, UNH Sustainability Institute, and The League of Conservation Voters present The White House Effect, an award-winning documentary that reveals how a pivotal moment in George H.W. Bush’s presidency altered the course of US climate-change policy.

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

University of New Hampshire

Memorial Union Building (MUB), Theatre I

83 Main Street, Durham NH

Free admission – For more information and to register, click HERE.

6:00 p.m. reception

6:30 p.m. film screening

Post-film discussion panel following the film, with Dante Scala, Professor of Political Science & International Affairs, UNH and others TBA

JOIN A STUDY ON WALKING AND BRAIN HEALTH AT UNH - Only 12 More Participants Needed!

Dr. Ferdinand Delgado, a researcher at the University of New Hampshire, is inviting adults (65+ years) to participate in a study exploring how walking and thinking abilities change with age. He is currently seeking 12 more participants to help complete this research!

Participation includes:

• A FREE cognitive assessment to evaluate memory and thinking

• A few walking and balance assessments

• All activities completed in just one session (about 1.5 – 2 hours)

• A $10 Amazon gift card as a thank you

Location: New Hampshire Hall, University of New Hampshire (Durham Campus)

This research will help understand how physical and cognitive health are connected and improve early detection of changes that affect aging adults.

If you are interested, please click HERE and fill out a short form to see if you qualify. Contact Dr. Delgado directly if you have any questions at ferdinand.delgado@unh.edu or 617-819-5825

Courtesy, Todd Selig