Friday Updates - September 26, 2025

Friday, September 26, 2025

A local artist painting a landscape on the shore of Wagon Hill Farm Courtesy, Jean McPeak

We've had several residents ask this week about where and how they might obtain COVID vaccinations. Admin. Selig recommends inquiring at your local pharmacy or with your health care provider. In Mr. Selig's case, CORE based out of Exeter Hospital was not offering COVID shots but the Hannaford pharmacy on Grapevine in Dover has them and on-line registration (required) was fairly straightforward. As soon as he hits the send button on this edition of the "Friday Updates," Todd will be heading there to get his COVID shot (at 5:15 PM tonight)!

The Lamprey River Advisory Committee's Fall Newsletter is out! You can download it HERE.

Per the NH Division of Forest & Lands and the Proclamation of Governor Ayotte, a statewide burn ban is in effect until further notice. Outdoor burning and smoking in/near woodlands, are prohibited due to high fire danger.

FORMER PLANNING BOARD MEMBER PASSES AWAY - Robert Brown

We are sad to share that Bob Brown, a former member of the Durham Planning Board and Economic Development committee, serving on both from 2016 to 2018, passed away on Saturday, September 13. He was 75. Town Planner Michael Behrendt said, “Bob was just a wonderful person. He was always congenial, positive, and enjoyable to work with. He took his job on the Planning Board seriously, but my main image of him now is with a big smile or that great laugh. I am sure that members who served with Bob back then have warm memories of him.” To view a full obituary, click HERE.

Durham’s departments, as well as the Town’s various boards, committees, and commissions (as well as external organizations to which the Town makes payments for services such dispatch, ambulance, social service agencies, etc.) have submitted their proposed budgets and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) requests for FY 2026 (January 1 – December 31) for consideration by Administrator Todd Selig and Business Manager Gail Jablonski as part of the annual budget development process.

Mr. Selig and Ms. Jablonski have been actively meeting 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 each of these meetings and in numerous cases between one and four Councilors sat 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 will ultimately integrate the CIP as part of his formal budget proposal by the end of October as described above.

It’s going to be a very challenging upcoming budget year 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, a projected increase in health insurance costs of around 10%, general inflation and cost increases across the operation, UNH fiscal challenges and projected future student enrollment declines, less interest earnings on investments, requests for additional personnel across departments (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.) and relying on the 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. This week 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 $125,000 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 in what will be a long 5-weeks ahead as Mr. Selig endeavors to work with departments, boards, committees, and commissions to winnow the budget down working toward the Administrator's formal proposal to the Council by October 31.

Mr. Selig notes that budgets submitted by departments have been well thought out and reflect actual/realistic cost increases for FY 2026.  

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.

HALLOWEEN TRICK-OR-TREATING SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 31 - Mark your calendars!

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.

Fall flowers. Courtesy, Todd Selig

BEWARE OF SCAM TARGETING APPLICANTS TO TOWN OF DURHAM BOARDS

On Tuesday, Administrative Assistant, Tracey Cutler received an email from an applicant applying to the Durham Planning Board for a lot line adjustment. The applicant had received an "invoice" by email supposedly from the Town of Durham for $4,900 for Planning Board fees. Tracey immediately let the applicant know that this was a scam! Someone had used the information on the town website to try and obtain this money from the applicant. To view the invoice the applicant received, click HERE. (Applicant information has been removed.)

Be aware that the Town of Durham Planning Department will never send an invoice for money or use a wire-transfer to collect the money. Tracey is in contact with applicants via email or phone regarding Planning Board fees which need to be paid by check or cash.

To avoid being scammed for any reason, it is always good to check the email address of the one sending the email. In this case the email with the invoice attached was not a Durham town email address. Thankfully, the applicant contacted Tracey directly rather than responding to the email.

INFORMATIONAL SESSION ON HOUSING TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 7 AT 10:00 A.M.

The Durham Housing Task Force is holding an informational session on a set of proposed zoning amendments designed to expand housing opportunities in town. If you are interested in learning more, please join the Task Force on Tuesday, October 7, at 10:00 am in the Town Council Chambers. You can see the proposal, which includes changes to the tables and the text of the Zoning Ordinance, HERE. The Task Force will be presenting these amendments to the Planning Board in the next few months as the board’s schedule allows. You can see numerous other interesting documents related to housing on the Task Force website HERE. 

The Housing Task Force will be sunsetted next month. It was established by the Town Council for the purpose of examining housing issues and proposing appropriate changes. With this zoning proposal, the work of the Task Force is completed (though the members will continue to shepherd this amendment through the review process with the Planning Board and Town Council).

Accomplishments of the Housing Task Force over the past few years include:

• Contracting for the preparation of a Housing Needs Assessment for Durham;
• Conducting extensive outreach efforts to learn about the community’s ideas about housing;
• Helping to create the Durham Attainable Housing Ordinance;
• Developing four strategies to help revitalize the downtown and bring more housing downtown (including three zoning initiatives and changes to the RSA 79-E program); and
• Preparation of the zoning amendments referred to above.

On Thursday, September 18, Planning Board members Paul Rasmussen and Richard Kelley, local architect Nick Isaak, and Town Planner Michael Behrendt toured MADCO3D’s 3D printing facility at the Gonic Mill in Rochester. MADCO3D uses innovative technology to build housing. 3D printing is a manufacturing process where successive layers of material are laid down horizontally by a robotic jet according to directions in a digital file. The company recently completed the “printing” of its first house in New Hampshire, a single-family residence in Manchester. MADCO3D hopes to bring down the cost for housing dramatically. 

The technology still has significant limitations, but it is progressing continually. The company prints mainly the walls of a building: a separate foundation is poured, architectural trim is added, conventional walls may be built over the printed lower walls for a hybrid aesthetic, a conventional roof is constructed, and the interior is fashioned in a mostly traditional manner, though some built-in furniture can be printed. The company creates sculpture and remarkably, it crafts sustainable concrete coral reefs for installation at endangered sites. You can take a look at their website HERE. Special thanks to the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast for organizing the tour.

TOTAL NUMBER OF FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLES ON THE INCREASE IN DURHAM! 

A goal of the Town’s Climate Action Plan is to reduce 2019 greenhouse gas emissions by 35.5% by 2050, and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. One of the ways we identified doing so was encouraging residents to transition to more fuel efficient, EV, and hybrid vehicles. 

Last week Town Clerk/Tax Collector Rachel Deane reviewed Durham’s vehicle registration data. It took some time to pull this together, because she must pull out personal information and manually figure out totals. Here’s what she found regarding increases from 2023 to 2025:

• Electric: 118 in 2023 to 230 in 2025
• Plugin Hybrid: 59 to105
• Hybrid (Elec/Gas): 356 to 568

Fuel-efficient/alternative vehicles now make up about 8% of all registered vehicles in Durham, up from 5% in 2023. Most vehicles (80%) registered in Durham are still gas-powered. 

Plastic pollution is a problem for all of us. Plastic can be found in our waterways, our soil, our food and in our bodies. Last week, we shared tips on how to cut pack on plastic waste  in our kitchens and laundry rooms. This week, we will share tips on ways to cut back on plastics in our bathrooms and general households.

In the bathroom: 

• Check the personal care products you use. Some exfoliating products and toothpastes contain microbeads, which are often, plastic. (The U.S. and Europe have banned the use of plastic microbeads.) 
• Swap plastic-bottled personal care products for solids like shampoo, conditioner and soap bars.
• Instead of using exfoliants that come in plastic tubes, use a natural loofah. 
• Choose deodorant options in cardboard tubes or glass containers. 
• Replace disposable plastic razors for reusable razors with replaceable blades.
• For cleaning, use plastic-free cleaning tablets (check out Blueland products sold at Target or online) or natural alternatives instead of plastic bottles. 

In the home:

• Vacuuming, particularly with a HEPA filter, is effective at sucking up microplastics.
• Swiffer dusters are primarily made of synthetic fibers, including polyester and polypropylene, which are plastics.  Choose to use natural fiber cloths for dusting instead.
• Maintain and repair plastic products you already own so that they won't have to be thrown out and replaced as frequently.
• Instead of discarding unwanted plastic items that are still in good shape, bring them to the Swap Shop located at the transfer station, or try selling or donating them, so they can be reused.

Source: Bluedot Living 

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.

Someone left some free flowers at the corner of Nobel K Peterson Drive and Bagdad Road last weekend. Courtesy, Todd Selig

TIME TO DONATE AND SHOP FOR HALLOWEEN ITEMS AT THE SWAP SHOP

• The Swap Shop welcomes your Halloween items! Please hold onto your Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas items until November. 
• Some items do not belong at the Swap Shop. If you would not give your items in their current condition to a friend or family member, the items probably aren’t ready for the Swap Shop.
• Please bring clean items. We do not have any way to wash dirty items (or our hands), and dirty items often are not taken.
• Please sort at home. Do not bring boxes of random toys or other small items that volunteers will need to spend time sorting. The Swap Shop is a busy place.
• The Swap Shop closes at 2:30 p.m. so that we can have everything put away before the Transfer Station closes at 3:00 p.m.
• Become a volunteer. Go to https://swapshopdurham.wordpress.com for more information. If you cannot commit to a 3-hour shift, ask about ways you may help when you have time available. Meet your neighbors. Meet your friends. Make new friends. Most of all, do your part to help keep usable items out of the landfill.

Retired New Hampshire State Police Staff Sergeant Bill Graham was sworn in as a part-time Durham Police Officer on September 23, 2025. Officer Bill Graham retired four years ago as the Assistant Troop Commander at Troop D. Since retiring, he has worked part-time for the Bradford Police Department. Before transferring to Troop D, Bill spent several years at Troop A covering Strafford County. Officer Bill Graham knows the Durham community well, and he would be available to assist the department with open shifts or details. Please help us in welcoming Officer Graham to our wonderful community.  

ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE CHECK LEADS TO ONE FAILURE OUT OF 18 LOCATIONS

On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Durham Police Department, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Liquor Commission Law Enforcement Division, conducted an alcohol compliance check at all vendors open for business at the time, who are licensed to sell such products in Durham. An underage volunteer, trained by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission to perform compliance checks, attempted to purchase alcohol products from eighteen of twenty locations in Durham that are licensed to sell such products. Two vendors were not operating at the time compliance checks were conducted.

The following establishments failed:

• University Market II – 7 Madbury Road

As a result of the operation, Mukeshkumar Patel, age 42, of Durham, NH, was charged with Prohibited Sales of Alcohol. 

Patel is scheduled for arraignment on November 12, 2025, at 8:30 AM, at the 7^th Circuit Court, Dover District Division. 

Why did the turkeys cross the road? Wild turkeys this week on Bagdad Road between Canney and Dover Roads. Courtesy, Todd Selig

ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES A FREE PRESENTATION - Celebrating Ordinary People in Distant Places

The Active Retirement Association (ARA) presents a FREE event, “Celebrating Ordinary People in Distant Places,” featuring Wendy Beckwith, ARA member and professor emerita of LaRoche College in Pittsburgh, PA, where she taught for 30 years and held a variety of administrative positions. Most recently she was the ADA Compliance Officer for UNH until her retirement.

Beckwith has traveled to distant places with striking landscapes, unique cultures, and wonderful architecture, but it is the people of Peru, Morocco, and Nepal who have left the greatest impression on her. Through her narrative you will meet a coca leaf vendor, a shepherd, a Himalayan village couple, a Thangka artist, and a living goddess, each leading an ordinary life that to most might seem quite extraordinary.

This FREE event is open to the public and will take place on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 1:30 – 3:00 PM, at the Community Church of Durham, 17 Main Street, Durham, NH, and also via Zoom. Pre-registration for non-members only is required at seacoastara@gmail.com. Please be sure to indicate whether you plan to attend in person or via Zoom.

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.

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

October 1 School Board Cancelled

The October 1, 2025, school board meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting will be at Mast Way School on Thursday, October 16.

Capital Planning Update

The district launched a new Elementary Projects webpage, which you may notice in the main navigation menu on the district website. This website is available 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. You can access the survey HERE. Additional capital planning information is also available on our Capital Planning page HERE.

NEA et al v. Formella Federal Lawsuit Update

On September 17, Chief Judge Landya B. McCafferty extended the temporary restraining order to October 2, 2025. This extension will allow the court additional time to review facts and legal arguments. Additional information about the NEA et al v. Formella federal lawsuit is available HERE.

Preschool Program Openings

We currently have openings in our afternoon preschool group. The afternoon program runs Monday to Thursday, 12:00-2:30 p.m., and serves 4 years old students. Please contact PEP Coordinator Diana Eisenhaure HERE or call 603-868-2375 ext. 6103 for additional details.

We're Hiring Paraeducators

Our 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 

Our 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.

Nutrition Assistance Programs

ORCSD's Free & Reduced Lunch program information may be found HERE. To continue receiving free or reduced meals for the 2025-2026 school year, your application must be received by October 11, 2025. Additional assistance is also offered by End 68 Hours of Hunger and Community Action Partnership of Strafford County.

ORCSD School Board Updates

ORCSD school board meetings recordings are available on the ORCSD YouTube channel HERE, and the agendas and minutes are available HERE. School board meetings are live streamed on the ORCSD Streaming channel HERE.

A blue heron in Mill Pond. Courtesy, Jane Taylor

CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN OCEAN MAPPING CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN THIS FALL 

Construction at UNH commences early November on the Center for Excellence in Ocean Mapping to be located on West Edge Drive – a first anchor in the Edge development. The project and its laydown will impact Lot S, West Edge and adjacent streetscapes. 

Parking mitigation and relocation will include the addition of 100 high demand, core campus resident student parking spaces in an expanded Lot E-2 on the edge of Forest Park.

2025 TASTE OF COLSA IS OCTOBER 3

The UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) is hosting its annual Taste of COLSA reception on Friday, October 3, from 4-6:00 p.m. on the lawn outside Barton Hall to help kick-off UNH’s Homecoming Weekend! Come for light refreshments inspired by COLSA research and stay to chat with our scientists and students about their work and enjoy the company of our growing college community. For more information, click HERE.

If you will need on-campus parking, please fill out this form HERE. Someone will be in touch the week of the event with your parking pass for the Sage Way lot.

Betty and Barney Hill were catapulted into the international spotlight when, in September 1961, they claimed to have been abducted by aliens in the White Mountains. The UNH Library holds their correspondence, personal journals and more, including the dress Betty wore during the abduction.

Join Special Collections Librarian Elizabeth Slomba to explore the collection and get an inside look at this mysterious event on Wednesday, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 101 of the Dimond Library. Registration required. Register HERE.

The Cat Trax bike share program continues to thrive, with support from Sustainability Institute and the Town of Durham. Twenty-eight bikes are maintained and available across the UNH campus and Durham community supporting more than 142 users. With 920 (free!) rides and more than 130 miles traveled so far in 2025, CatTrax continues to be a visible and valued contribution to UNH’s and Durham’s sustainable transportation initiatives. 

The 2025 season will run through Thanksgiving Break. Cat Trax bikes are available to Town residents as well and can be ridden anywhere within Durham. Learn more HERE.