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A selection committee is in the process of reviewing and interviewing applicants for the upcoming Public Works Director vacancy due to the planned retirement of long-time DPW Director Mike Lynch.
Also . . .
Spring Cleanup is postponed until further notice . . .
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UPDATED COVID-19 CASE INFORMATION FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE (As of 4/16/20, 9AM)
Number of Persons with COVID‐19: 1,211
Recovered: 455 (38%)
Deaths attributed to COVID-19: 34 (3%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases: 722
Persons who have been hospitalized for COVID-19: 187 (15%)
Current hospitalizations: 74
Persons Tested Negative at Selected Laboratories: 11,421
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL: 5,582
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL: 66
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time): 2,225
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ESSENTIAL DURHAM BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS/GROCERY STORES LIST
View a list with information about essential businesses in Durham , as well as a list with Durham restaurants hours provided by the Durham Business Association HERE.
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LOOKING FOR A WAY TO HELP YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY? Local food banks are seeking donations...
Our area food banks are experiencing an increase in demand and would greatly appreciate donations of food or money so they can purchase needed items for families in need. Please consider using your resources to assist one of our local non-profit organizations serving the Durham/Oyster River community. View the list of food pantries HERE.
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GRASS ROOTS EXPRESSION OF THANKS FOR TEACHERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS PLANNED
A number of citizens are planning an informal thank you caravan for teachers and essential workers within the Durham, Lee, Madbury Oyster River community
Their goal is to have decorated cars start at ORHS at around 10:15 AM on Wednesday, April 22, and to be there when the school buses will be loaded with food and supplies for the community. These residents will wave and honk and say thank you’s, and will then plan to proceed with the following approximate route…
1. 10:15-10:30 ORHS
2. 10:30 Depart for DPD via Bagdad Road to 108.
3. Pass Stone Quarry Drive.
4. Drive through parking lot at Durham Town Hall- Exit via Mill Pond Road.
5. Drive through campus past DFD/MacGregor
6. Loop through MPD/FD
7. Loop past Madbury Town Hall
8. Drive by Lee Town Hall
9. Drive by Lee PD/FD
Disband
They anticipate being done by about 11:15 AM, possibly earlier.
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Pictured are Fire Captain Gary Kustra, FF Brendan O'Sullivan, and FF Arthur Boutin. Courtesy DFD
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NEIGHBORHOOD LIGHTS - The DFD will visit Durham neighborhoods Saturday nights in a parade-like fashion to lift spirits as outlined below.
The Town of Durham’s available emergency services units will be conducting rolling community visits through Durham neighborhoods on Saturday evenings between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for the next several weeks. Residents are encouraged to exercise appropriate social distancing with their neighbors if they come outside during the parade.
The apparatus parade will train through the following streets twice during their visits:
Saturday, 04/18/2020: Sunnyside Drive, Pinecrest Lane, Denbow Road, Ffrost Drive, Cutts Road, Palmer Drive, Hamel Drive, Sandy Brook Drive, Longmarsh Road, Stagecoach Road, Ross Road, Meader Lane, and Simons Lane.
Saturday, 04/25/2020: Woodridge Road, Moharinet Way, Bartlett Road, Meserve Road, Fogg Drive, Mill Road, Worthen Road, Edendale Lane, Britton Lane, Carriage Way, Surrey Lane, and Griffith Drive.
Saturday, 05/02/2020: Davis Avenue, Fairchild Drive, Rocky Lane, Adams Circle, Edgewood Road, Meadow Road, Maple Street, Madbury Road, Wood Road, Lundy Lane, Hampshire Avenue, Scotland Road, Tom Hall Road, and Emerson Road.
Saturday, 05/09/2020: Durham Point Road, Deer Meadow Road, Fox Hill Road, Mathes Cove Road, Colony Cove Road, Edgerly–Garrison Road.
Saturday, 05/16/2020: Stone Quarry Drive, Briggs Way, Riverview Road,
Shearwater Street, Cormorant Circle, Morgan Way, Williams Way, Tirrell Place, and Cedar Point Road.
The intent of this visit is to spread cheer by giving the kids and families something to look forward to as well as to let the community know that their emergency responders are still here and available to respond. Different neighborhoods will be visited each week.
The intent of this visit is to spread cheer by giving the kids and families something to look forward to as well as to let the community know that their emergency responders are still here and available to respond. Different neighborhoods will be visited each week.
This event subject to change due to emergency or service responses.
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DUE TO PANDEMIC, DURHAM COMMUNITY CHURCH RINGS BELLS AT 7 PM ALONG WITH UNH - A Message from the Community Church of Durham
While we were celebrating New Year 2020 a little over three months ago, who could have imagined we’d be where we are today? The sudden, cataclysmic wave of the Coronavirus pandemic has touched nearly everyone in some way, sometimes with horrific or lethal effect. It feels as if the world has turned upside down.
Yet, in among the endless reports of dire existential and economic consequences, one can glimpse the quiet strength of the human spirit. Throughout the United States, our hospital workers and ambulance personnel constantly put their lives on the line to save the lives of the stricken. Our fire, police, municipal and grocery store workers risk exposing themselves to the virus daily. Our educators have had to totally reconfigure the educational environment to reach into the home in order to teach our students.
In these times, how do we say Thank You? If you have been watching the 11:00 news lately, you may have seen a clip from Milan, Italy; people quarantined to apartments raise their voices in song from balconies. Or folks in New York City or Boston leaning out their windows at 7 PM each night, banging pots, clapping and cheering to show their thanks for the people who have been putting themselves in harm’s way during the Coronavirus. What a magnificent sound.
And although we in Durham seem to be on the fringes of this pandemic, our first responders are still at the forefront; this is why you may have recently heard bells ringing from the Durham Community Church and UNH T Hall right at 7 PM.
This is our way of showing our gratitude and support, and to urge us all to stay strong in our social distancing and handwashing so that we’ll all get safely through this dark time.
The bell at the Community Church was a mode of communication in Durham long before the invention of radio or telephone, and its peal continues to send a message of hope and solidarity to all of us. Thanks so much for what you do!
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GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU LETTER TO EDUCATION LEADERS
On Thursday, April 16th, following the announcement that New Hampshire schools will continue remote learning through the end of the school year, Governor Chris Sununu sent a letter to education leaders across the state.
A copy of the letter can be found HERE.
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INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ONLINE LEARNING, & THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT
The Oyster River School Board has been meeting virtually using Microsoft Teams. Links and phone numbers to watch or listen to live or archived meetings are on the ORCSD web site under School Board Agendas and Minutes. The next meeting will be May 6.
The last day of school in Oyster River Schools this year will be June 5. A reminder that the April vacation has been converted to a learning week in order to facilitate the earlier completion date.
High school students and their families will have the option to select the option of a letter grade or credit/no-credit for each of their 4th quarter classes. This decision may be made at the end of the school year for each individual class. The high school administration will be developing the process for implementing this choice model.
Construction planning for the new middle school building continues on schedule. Equipment is beginning to be delivered to the middle school site to prepare. At this point, the middle school construction schedule has not changed. Groundbreaking will occur in May. Sadly due to Coronavirus, there will be NO groundbreaking ceremony. The district will make plans for a virtual groundbreaking. The district is investigating ways to follow the work on camera for the community to follow. This spring and summer site work, concrete work and steel framing will begin.
The new middle school is expected to be completed by February/March 2022.
We are moving forward. Bids by sub-contractors are coming in on target so the guaranteed Maximum Price of $49,847,732 is secure.
The new school will correct deficiencies in classroom size and environments, it will be sustainable using geo-thermal to reduce fossil fuel dependencies by 85%, and it will be safe and handicapped accessible.
A bid to construct parking where the current high school tennis courts are located was approved. This additional parking will provide some remote parking relief while the middle school construction is in progress. In addition, the ORCSD and Durham are coordinating their efforts such that on street parking can be created this spring/summer along Coe Drive extending approximately from the SAU up the hill extending towards Dennison to supplement parking needs associated with the project.
The school community has continued to adapt to the remote learning environment, challenging students, families, teachers, and staff from all departments across the district.
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Oyster River (Mill Pond) Dam. Courtesy Todd Selig
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TOWN ENGINEER TO PROVIDE COUNCIL WITH UPDATE ON OYSTER RIVER (MILL POND) DAM FEASIBILTY WORK MONDAY EVENING
Town Engineer April Talon will provide an update to the Town Council on the latest information and work completed by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) and subconsultants Pare Corporation and Weston and Sampson, as part of the Oyster River (Mill Pond) Dam Feasibility Study. VHB was contracted by the Town in 2019, in the amount of $330,000, to complete an Oyster River (Mill Pond) Dam Feasibility Study. The intent of the dam feasibility study is to review reasonable modifications to the dam which would address the known structural deficiencies as identified by the 2018 Letter of Deficiency issued by the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Dam Bureau, while also considering the water quality of Mill Pond.
The following reports and findings are summarized below for the Town Council’s review and consideration. These documents have been uploaded to the Town’s Mill Pond Dam Current Information and Feasibility Study webpage, which can be found HERE.
Mill Pond Dam Hazard Reclassification Memo, March 3, 2020
The results of analyses completed indicate that a waiver such that the dam would be regulated as a non-menace structure may be warranted. Under this waiver, future dam rehabilitation applications would only require the dam’s discharge capacity to equal its current discharge capacity. Regardless of flow condition or in what configuration the dam could breach, a failure of the dam is not expected to increase flooding impacts of the immediate abutters. Under no breach scenario or design flood event is the lower living level expected to flood. The Town is expecting a formal letter from the Dam Bureau by the end of business Friday April 17th, 2020. Approval of the waiver is subject to NHDES review and is anticipated to be contingent on conditions such as the execution of legal agreements between the dam owner (the Town) and abutter(s). This memo can be found HERE.
Final Mill Pond Dam Inspection Report, March 2020
The Mill Pond Dam was inspected on December 18, 2019 under shallow drawdown. The drawdown lowered the level of the impoundment approximately 4 to 5 inches with the pool level slowly rising as the inspection was completed. In general, the overall condition of the Mill Pond Dam was found to be in Poor Condition. The final inspection report can be found HERE.
Mill Pond Dam Alternatives Screening Memo, April 8, 2020
The project team has completed a preliminary review of alternatives to address the known structural deficiencies of the Mill Pond Dam. The project team has also completed conceptual sketches and cost estimates of the alternatives that can be found in the full report. Five distinct alternatives have been developed, which will be presented to the Council Monday evening.
Alternative 1– No Action: This alternative would require that the NHDES Dam Bureau approve a “non-menace waiver,” which would remove the requirement that the dam pass a 50-year spillway design flow. Hydraulic modeling completed to date suggests that NHDES may approve such a waiver request. However, as documented in Pare’s recent dam inspection, the condition of the dam poses a near-term structural risk. The No Action Alternative, therefore, is not recommended.
Alternative 2 – Repair: This alternative would include: structural reinforcement of the spillway ribs; reinforcement of the right training wall; repairs to the fish ladder to address undermining; stabilization of the gated outlet; and replacement of the outlet gates. This alternative would require that the NHDES Dam Bureau approve a “non-menace waiver.” Repair would only address areas of extensive concrete deterioration and would not address all concrete that has been impacted by alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and other deterioration. The effective design life of the Repair Alternative is limited, therefore is not recommended. The conceptual cost of Alternative 2 is expected to fall within a range of $450,000 to $550,000, not including the measures needed to restore the pond, improve water quality, and mitigate adverse natural resource and historic impacts.
Alternative 3 – Stabilization: This alternative would include: Construction of a “new” spillway within the confines of the existing spillway by pumping reinforced concrete within each of the spillway cells to create a mass concrete section that would be anchored to the bedrock; repairs to the fish ladder to address undermining; stabilization of the gated outlet; and replacement of the outlet gates. The approach would provide a long-term solution to the concerns for the existing dam. However, like Alternative 1 and 2, this alternative also would require that the NHDES Dam Bureau approve a “non-menace waiver.” The cost of Alternative 3 is expected to fall within a range of $300,000 to $425,000, not including the measures needed to restore the pond, improve water quality, and mitigate adverse natural resource and historic impacts.
Alternative 4 – Complete Dam Redesign: This alternative would involve modifying the dam to pass the 50-year spillway design storm event with 1-foot of freeboard, and would therefore not require NHDES approval of a non-menace waiver. The required modifications would include: Replacing the existing spillway with a new spillway, maintaining the current crest elevation; lowering the top of the gated outlet structure approximately 2 feet to effectively widen the spillway by 26 feet; providing an auxiliary spillway extending into the right abutment at an elevation approximately 1.7 feet higher than the spillway crest; raise the effective top of dam elevation by 1.85 feet by constructing an approximately 50-foot long earthen berm/dike at the right abutment and grading left of the fish ladder to meet design top of dam elevations; and reconstruction of the existing spillway to address structural concerns. This alternative would also include replacing the gated outlet structure and addressing other known concerns including undermining of the fish ladder. Alternative 4 would have an anticipated design life exceeding 50 years. The cost of Alternative 4 is expected to fall within a range of $600,000 to $800,000, not including the measures needed to restore the pond, improve water quality, and mitigate adverse natural resource and historic impacts.
Alternative 5 - Dam Removal: Dam removal would involve: demolition of the spillway structure and the fish ladder, while preserving the gated outlet at the right abutment and the fish ladder forebay/left abutment concrete wall to help ensure bank stabilization and minimize historical impact. A reconstructed river channel and floodplain would be created through the former location of the dam, designed to simulate the geomorphology of a natural river with a channel slope consistent with the Oyster River. Based on similar dam removal projects, the cost of dam removal could be expected to range from $300,000 to $750,000, depending on the specific requirements to mitigate sediment migration or contamination concerns in the impoundment. The cost of this alternative may be offset by state and federal grant programs intended to restore aquatic habitats.
The complete report, can be found HERE.
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OYSTER RIVER GIVES BACK COMMUNITY CONCERT - April 29th (Virtual)
On Wednesday, April 29th, the community has the opportunity to come together virtually and say thank you to all the teachers & staff of the Oyster River district who've done an amazing job in this season to care for the students & community.
Join the group from 7-8:30 for a virtual open mic concert with local performers and some UNH students and say "THANK YOU" by donating to the local non-profits helping those impacted by the rolling effects of the Covid-19 quarantine.
Here's how we can all pitch in to this event:
1) BOOK YOUR TICKET: Get your virtual ticket by registering HERE.
2) GIVE: Be part of giving $8,000.00 to local non-profits in the name of a teacher or staff that you appreciate. $2,000.00 has already been given towards the goal. Give HERE.
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DURHAM’S LEADERSHIP TEAM MET VIRTUALLY ON APRIL 14TH TO ADDRESS DEPARTMENT MATTERS AND TO PROVIDE ROUNDTABLE UPDATES – Here’s what was learned…
Board meetings. Several residents have suggested that the Town suspend meetings of the various boards and commission for the duration of the coronavirus, especially with constraints on handling public hearings. Town boards and commissions are continuing to meet either entirely virtually through videoconference or through a hybrid approach where a few members physically attend the meeting and the rest participate live through videoconference. At this point, it is up to each board or commission to determine which approach to use. In response to an email from one resident concerned about Planning Board hearings, Town Administrator Todd Selig, said, “The Governor, through his various executive orders, has provided clear authority for public boards to undertake their business 100% virtually, if needed. In fact, both developers and residents often may find themselves in the same situation regarding participation in public meetings. Fortunately, interested residents/applicants have many means through which to watch, follow, and participate: DCAT-Channel 22, DCAT On Demand on the web, minutes of meetings, emails, letters, Zoom video, Zoom audio, and with some proceedings, in person (though this is certainly discouraged) attendance with appropriate social separation (the Council room chairs have been rearranged for this purpose). We will continue to monitor closely the process and will endeavor to continue to fine tune as needed to ensure continuity of operations, to the extent possible, during this unusual situation.”
Zoom! Several outside parties who participated in recent Planning Board meetings have complimented the Town on the effectiveness and openness of Durham’s approach. Numerous people have noted to the staff how remarkably seamless the view is on DCAT showing board members physically present in Council Chambers; board members, applicants, and residents participating at home via Zoom, and powerpoint presentations on the screen. Kudos to Craig Stevens, DCAT Coordinator, and Luke Vincent, IT Director, for their great work.
Traveling. View information about traveling from the Transportation Security Administration HERE.
How to Manage Isolation and Loneliness. View a helpful article from The Healthy HERE.
COVID-19 report across the country. View a map of cases across the country shown by county from yesterday, provided by Eimpact Report HERE.
Impacts on states and cities. View a discouraging article about the financial impact on states and cities with the coronavirus HERE.
Highlights from the Leadership Team Meeting:
Public Works. Director Mike Lynch says the department is very busy. They have five different schedules now and are rotating staff as best they can to keep people as separate as possible. Site work for the new Oyster River Middle School will begin soon. Many construction trucks will be coming from Dover. They will be directed along Route 108/Dover Road to Main Street up Church Hill to Madbury Road then onto Woodman Road, then onto Dennison Road. Truck traffic will last for a number of months. The trip will be easier now with less traffic.
The federal government will take applications for shovel ready projects to fund as part of the stimulus package. This is similar to the program years ago in 2008. We were very successful last time. We have a half dozen projects that we are looking at for submission.
Fire Department. The department has been very busy. They are establishing requirements for firefighters regarding social distancing and use of masks. Chief Dave Emanuel is reporting on exposures, quarantines, and needed resources. He has requested additional surgical masks from New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Two department members were tested recently but fortunately both received negative results. The department is working with the information systems and building departments on the new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program.
Police. Things are fairly quiet in the department right now. We are seeing some influx of students returning to their apartments, especially on weekends. While some students may leave their cars here, Chief Dave Kurz noted that the parking lot at the Lodges was pretty full and the lot at the Cottages was about half full. Property managers for sites throughout town have been doing a good job managing the situation. There have been complaints from some Durham residents seeing a lack of social distance with students. Officers then speak to the students and find they have been cooperative. Construction at the middle school will be discussed at the next Traffic Safety Committee meeting.
Building. Code Administrator Audrey Cline said the department will coordinate with the Public Works, Fire, and Police departments for construction at the middle school. Riverwoods is getting their final certificate of occupancy soon. The materials on the construction area across from Riverwoods on Stone Quarry Drive is owned by various subcontractors. It will be removed when their work is complete.
Planning. Town Planner Michael Behrendt noted that a number of larger projects have been in the works with the Planning Board, including Mill Plaza, expansion of the former Elizabeth DeMeritt House on Garrison Avenue for the ATO fraternity, and a 10-house subdivision off Gerrish Drive. We continue to see smaller projects including minor site plans and lot line adjustments. The Conservation Commission and Historic District Commission did not meet last month but they are meeting soon.
Economic Development. Director Christine Soutter has been working with a group of Council members and staff on some prospective changes to downtown zoning and RSA 79E (downtown revitalization). She is hoping that new rules will make the process more user friendly. She is working on getting information about where graduate students live and how much rent they pay. She noted that many live in Dover and some live in Newmarket, though Newmarket is less desirable for those without a car as UNH bus service there has been reduced.
Assessing. Assessor Jim Rice has been doing research on RSA 79E. The downtown revitalization statute allows for towns to freeze property taxes at the current level and not raise them due to the value of new development for qualifying projects in the downtown. There are challenges to using the program in Durham so we are exploring possible changes to our policy.
Recreation. Director Rachel Gasowski said they are busy revamping the department to be all virtual including providing for on line classes, such as Zumba and Tai Chi. They are working with Celebrate Durham for a virtual community concert at the end of April. The Memorial Day Parade will be all virtual. Other virtual events are planned such as a social distance 6K. There have been requests from parents for a virtual camp this summer. They are looking into offering a daily activity.
Library. Director Sheryl Bass is the only person working at the library now that it is closed. Other staff are working at home on various library projects. Lots of people are calling the library. They are running out of things to read and want to get new books! The staff is trying to find a way for people to pick up books and not have any contact.
Town Clerk. Town Clerk Lorrie Pitt said the new walk up window is working well though it is best for residents to conduct business on line, on the phone, or using the drop off slot. Residents can do everything through the window. Just ring the bell. But they still should call ahead for an appointment if one is needed. The state will now allow anybody to use an absentee ballot by mail for the November election. The election will be held as usual but there will probably be lots of absentee ballots. Lorrie said the law would need to change to allow absentee or mail-in ballots for anybody for all future elections. Now, you can use them only for religious reasons, if you are out of town, or have a physical/medical reason.
Business Office. Business Manager Gail Jablonski said the auditors are sending requests for information and do not have to come in at this point. Parking meters have been shut off since March so we are not getting that revenue. We are now revising the Town purchase policy.
Information Technology. A request for proposal was sent out to create a new permitting system for the Building and Fire Departments. The program would allow applicants to go to the website, get a permit number and pay their fee without coming into the office. The department is getting quotes for smart television for the Bill Schoonmaker conference room at the Police Station.
Other items. Town Administrator Todd said it is unclear right now how UNH will handle operations this fall. Unfortunately, there is no authoritative guidance on this, whether from the federal government, the governor, or health experts. the situation is very fluid. Todd noted that many colleges across the country are scaling back on various initiatives, particularly those considered risky. Some have not refunded room and board to students which has prompted lawsuits. Fortunately, UNH addressed this situation already. We hope that the coronavirus situation will not adversely affect the connection with the host community for professors and students who will be engaging on line rather than on the campus.
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Resident Gary Weisman submitted this photograph to show what can happen if one is late getting bird feeders down (NH Fish & Game says April 1).
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BRING IN YOUR BIRD FEEDERS! Bears are out and about...
It’s that time of year again and the bears are on the move and it is important to understand how we can limit our interactions so the bears and humans remain safe and peaceful neighbors.
According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game website, black bears are generally shy and usually avoid humans. They are opportunistic and will search for human food supplies when natural foods are not available. Maintaining a sustainable bear population in New Hampshire depends on minimizing human-bear conflicts.
It is illegal to intentionally feed bears in New Hampshire. Intentional feeding can create problems within residential areas and can result in fines. It also may threaten the life of the bear, if it becomes a nuisance animal as a result of this feeding.
New Hampshire Fish and Game understands the importance of educating the public and provide very good tips for helping to avoid conflicts with bears. You can find some tips on living with bears in New Hampshire HERE.
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UNH TRANSPORTATION PROJECT UPDATES IN DURHAM THAT MAY IMPACT SURROUNDING AREAS
The Town has representation on the UNH Traffic Policy Committee and the University has representation on the Town’s Traffic Safety Committee. In this manner, we ensure ongoing and active communication between Durham and UNH, which is absolutely essential.
Projects at the University delayed until fall given COVID/campus closure include:
• UNH Planning Student Organization Pedestrian Safety Outreach
• Main Street ped/traffic volume data collection
• Micromobility Demonstration Day
Update on UNH projects for the summer months:
Main Street South Sidewalk: NHDOT has approved the final design and contracting plans for this project. UNH expects advertising for bids in the next two weeks and work to begin in early June. The project will result in a new sidewalk on the south side of Main Street from the Field House to the roundabout along with enhanced lighting. The project is being supported with 80% USDOT/Federal Highways funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). UNH is managing this project on behalf of the NHDOT.
South Drive: The new roadway link between Stadium lot and Colovos Drive was completed with a gate last fall. This section remains a gated ped/bike way (with permitted emergency and construction vehicle access). UNH is currently evaluating an evolving completion plan in coordination with development of the southwest quadrant and location of a new HHS Nursing facility. Completion of South Drive, envisioned in the 2012 UNH Master Plan, remains a UNH priority.
Fleet Analysis: The UNH fleet in Durham consists of over 300 vehicles, which traveled over 1.5M miles and used over $525,000 of fuel (gas, biodiesel, CNG and electric) in FY 2019. As part of overall fiscal and environmental review multiple UNH departments are involved in a review of efficiency, mobility needs, and costs. A UNH Committee has been reviewing fleet savings proposals. UNH is very active with these and other sustainability efforts.
Summer Projects: These projects will result in minor detours or temporary lot impacts:
- Main Street Surfacing (full width) – Sage Way to NH 155A in coordination with Town
- Edgewood Water Tank removal – may require partial closure of upper Strafford Ave. lot
- Spaulding Expansion–summer impacts on Academic Way and Arts Way
- Telecom Bldg Expansion – impacts on DeMerrit Way (pedestrian corridor)
- College Road sidewalk (west side) from Service Rd to Lot F - deferred until summer 2021
- McDaniel Dr. @ Evergreen: Intersection/crosswalk improve/Lot B entrances – likely deferred until summer 2021
Rail Station Enhancements: $974,000 for platform, site and structure improvements. UNH hopes to release a design & engineering RFP in late fall of this year following FTA award execution. Construction to begin spring 2021 with completion goal of winter 2021 - the 111th birthday of the relocation and construction of the station at this site. Project being developed in coordination with Durham.
Amtrak Downeaster: Effective Monday, April 13th all Downeaster service is suspended (until at least April 30th). The service had continued to operate reduced service thru April 12.
ZipCar: UNH has extended the ZipCar contract through July 2020. We are looking at long-term shared mobility options (car, bike, etc.) in a broader RFP to be issued in the next few months.
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DURHAM POLICE ANNOUNCE THAT BRETT PESTANA HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO SERGEANT
Chief Kurz is announcing that Officer Brett Pestana has been selected as Durham’s newest Sergeant replacing the vacancy of Danny Brooks who left to be Deputy Police Chief in Barrington. Ironically one of the more stressful events for any size police department are promotions, which are exasperated in a small police agency where promotions are few and far between and competition is keenly focused upon this rare event. The Durham Police have attempted to mitigate this stress by having an open and defined process that levels the playing field for all participants while providing an educational opportunity in the nuances of supervision.
Brett came to the Durham Police in May of 2014 after receiving his BS in Criminal Justice from Plymouth State University. Brett is married to Nicole who is a communications supervisor for the Dover Police. Congratulations to Durham’s newest supervisor!
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SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS
Locally produced food is a critical resource and local farms are critical infrastructure and the Durham Agricultural Commission encourages residents to support local food producers. Seacoast Eat Local has established an online search tool that enables users to type in the produce/meat/food product they are looking for and farms in our area that carry the item popup, https://seacoastharvest.org/ . Contactless food pick and delivery are available from many local farms.
Residents interested in backyard gardening can find useful and inspiring information compiled by the Agricultural Commission HERE.
Thank you for your help. – Theresa, 603-534-3913
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WALK, RUN, BIKE TO DISCOVER DURHAM’S TRAILS ... BUT PLEASE -- Maintain safe social distancing and reduce congestion at trailhead parking areas for everyone's safety
The Town of Durham’s open spaces offer places for maintaining mental and physical health for individuals and families, during these stressful times. The trails are open for exploration—due to the COVID-19 threat, visitors must maintain appropriate social distancing, which generally means keeping 6 feet apart. This is especially important on weekends, when visitation is high. If sites are congested, please seek alternate locations. It is mud season, please treat trails gently.
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THIS WEEK'S WEEKLY SCAVENGER HUNT - WHAT’S IN YOUR YARD?
IT’S MUD SEASON and with the desire to get outside in spring--magnified this year due to COVID-19--our trails are turning muddy in places. To alleviate some of the pressure on trails, this week’s Scavenger Hunt features “What’s in Your Yard?”
If you do want to venture forth beyond your property, we encourage people to bicycling local roads or stroll around your neighborhood.
Whether on foot or bike, a reminder to maintain appropriate social distancing, which generally means keeping 6 feet apart. Please leave what you observe and take only memories or pictures, and carry out what you carry in. Enjoy and Stay Safe.
Trail maps for Durham conservation areas are available HERE.
Get your weekly scavenger hunt HERE.
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HELP BUILD A NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ON THE MERRICK EASEMENT: $2,270 RAISED SO FAR!
Tom and Mary Merrick conveyed a conservation easement on their 23-acre property to the Town of Durham in 2006. The Merrick family continues to own and manage their property, while the easement protects their land in perpetuity from further development. A network of public trails connects the entrance off Bagdad Road, near the Oyster River High School, with an entrance and small parking area off Canney Road, close to the new Riverwoods complex. The trail entrance off Bagdad Road runs through a wet section of the property and despite several attempts to cross this wet section with wood bridges or stepping stones in the past, they have not lasted. Our plan is to build a solid, decked bridge that would allow water to flow underneath and cross the wet, muddy stretch of trail. Our goal is to raise $2,500 for the cost of materials by May 1, 2020 so that we can complete the project with volunteers by September 1st.
You can read more about the project HERE and find a pledge form HERE.
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - Deputy Fire Chief - Prevention
Salary range: $80,000 - $96,000 contingent on qualifications and experience
The Town of Durham, NH is accepting applications for the position of Deputy Fire Chief -Prevention.
The full position posting and Town of Durham application may be found on the Town’s website HERE.
Submit materials per the instructions by May 15, 2020 at noon. Position to remain open until filled.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE ATTORNEY WARNS AGAINST SCAMS
Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald urges all of New Hampshire’s aging adults to be aware of and to take steps to protect themselves from scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, all people are encouraged to assist aging adults in protecting themselves from scams to the fullest and safest extent possible.
In recent weeks, scammers have used the uncertainty and isolation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic to attempt to obtain personal identifying information and assets of aging adults across the country.
View the list of some of the scams currently aimed at aging adults, as well as recommendations on what to do if you encounter them HERE.
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TICKS ARE NO JOKE AND SMALL TICKS ARE NOW ACTIVE – Take precautions to protect yourself and your family!
Just when you thought it was warm enough to venture outdoors again, health officials are warning that the number of Americans infected by mosquito, tick, and flea bites has more than tripled in recent years.
Tick-borne diseases like Lyme and Rocky Mountain spotted fever have been increasing in the Northeast, Upper Midwest and California, and mosquitoes may be carrying West Nile virus and, in some parts of the United States, Zika.
The only flea-borne disease is the plague, but it, thankfully, is extremely rare!
There’s no magic pill or vaccine to prevent disease infections, but you can take steps to protect yourself and your family from bites — and it all starts with awareness according to Roni Caryn Rabin for the NY Times:
Cover up, even when it’s hot out
If you’re going hiking in Durham, wear long pants, long sleeves, shoes and socks, and tuck your pants into your socks to avoid any exposed skin around the ankles. Wear a hat. Treat clothes with insect repellant.
Use insect repellent on exposed skin
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency recommend using mosquito repellents that have as their active ingredient either DEET; picaridin; IR3535; oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD); or 2-undecanone. Only DEET, picaridin and IR3535 are effective agents against ticks
Check yourself for ticks after a walk in nature
Take a shower after your hike and check yourself for ticks. Make sure to feel your scalp under your hair, and check folds of skin, your private parts, behind your ears and behind your knees. Parents should check their children, and adults should have someone else check their backs. And look in your clothes for ticks.
TickSmart™ Tip #1: Dry clothes first, then wash.
Most ticks are VERY sensitive to dryness. The very first action to take after working in the yard is to strip clothing off and throw it in the dryer. Deer ticks are most susceptible, while American dog ticks, Lone Star ticks and other Amblyomma species are more robust. To be sure that each species achieves fatal crispiness, leave clothes in the dryer on high for 15 minutes.
Minimize exposure in your home and yard
Mosquitoes breed in fresh water and can reproduce in as little as a bottle cap full of water, so rid your yard and deck of empty flower pots, bird baths or bowls where water can accumulate. (If you keep a dog’s water bowl outside, empty and refresh it frequently). Make sure your window screens are intact — It doesn’t take a very big hole to let mosquitoes in.
Another surprisingly easy low-tech way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is to set up an electric fan on a table near your seating area. The breeze it creates disperses the human scents that draw female mosquitoes, and mosquitoes have a hard time flying into the wind.
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DANDELIONS ARE BEE-UTIFUL - 3rd Annual Contest for the Durham Lawn(s) with the Most Dandelions
As part of Durham’s Bee Friendly Program, the Agricultural Commission is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Contest to encourage town residents to both recognize and demonstrate the importance of dandelions for honeybees
and other pollinators.
Town residents are invited to submit a photo(s) of their residential lawn where dandelions are either allowed -- or encouraged! -- to grow. In 2019 there were 12 participants. This year we hope to double or triple this number. *
Send a photo(s) via e-mail to: Lee Alexander
e-mail: mailto: leelaine-alex@comcast.net
mobile: 603-866-2822
Please include name, address, and phone number.
Each contest participant will receive a small (2 oz.) squeeze bottle of “Lee’s Bees” Wildflower Honey.
Based on a fair (but somewhat subjective) site evaluation, the lawn judged to have the highest density of dandelions will receive a large (16 oz.) squeeze bottle of honey.
* This year Durham has been challenged to a “Two-Town Contest” with Kingston, NH. The winner will be the town with the most participants. Show your pride and “Bee-a-Contestant”!
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Update. The first few dandelions have started to bloom! To encourage a positive outlook and contest participation, following truisms are offered:
Dandelions are not weeds -- but beautiful spring wildflowers.
A lawn never has too many dandelions – only too little time in which they bloom.
Not mowing your lawn is a type of “purposeful inaction” that yields positive results.
The urge to mow your lawn in May is an irrational state-of-mind that can be overcome.
Avoiding herbicides mean more wildflowers, beneficial pollinators, and beautiful songbirds.
Feeding honeybees in early spring contributes to sweet results the rest of the summer.
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DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE - Durham does have a Leash Law
There have been several reports of dogs off leash recently.
Town ordinances require that a dog be on a leash no longer than 8 feet at all times when off the private property of the owner. If the dog bolts from the owner’s property to harass or frighten people this is a violation of the Town Ordinance.
We all love our pets but there are some who may be frightened of a dog they are not familiar with and it is ultimately the owner’s responsibility to ensure that their animal is restrained when off their property limits.
Read Durham's ordinance concerning the regulation of dogs HERE.
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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.
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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.
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In compliance with the NH State Stay at Home Order effective March 27th, Durham Public Library will be ending curbside service at 4:00 pm on Friday, March 27th. For information regarding available services during our closure and our updated Director’s Statement, please visit our website HERE.
We are hearing from so many of you, and we love it! Keep your device, digital books, and database questions coming! We are here to respond via email or phone, and we are happy to guide you through any of our available resources!
Check out our website at http://www.durhampubliclibrary.org/ or follow the library on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for ideas on youth programs to do remotely, updates during the closure, new digital offerings coming very soon and to vote in the Library Haiku Contest for National Poetry Month!
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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."
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1974 - The official seal was accepted by the selectmen. The rising sun background was from the original State Seal, but the foreground is the scene from the Falls bridge. The gundalow has had much to do with early livelihood of the Town. The seal was designed by Richard Brayton.
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*Academic year commences the third week of August through graduation at UNH in May.
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Have a very nice weekend and stay safe and well.
Todd
Todd I. Selig, Administrator/Emergency Management Director
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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