Friday Updates - April 21, 2023

Friday, April 21, 2023

Today is Eid al-Fitr, (Arabic: “Festival of Breaking Fast”) the first of two canonical festivals of Islam. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwāl, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar (though the Muslim use of a lunar calendar means that it may fall in any season of the year). As in Islam’s other holy festival, Eid al-Adha, it is distinguished by the performance of communal prayer (ṣalāt) at daybreak on its first day. Eid al-Fitr is a time of official receptions and private visits, when friends greet one another, presents are given, new clothes are worn, and the graves of relatives are visited.

Next week is school vacation week for Oyster River.  

Durham’s Earth Day Event is being rescheduled to Saturday, April 29th due to the blustery and cold forecast for this weekend. Think Spring, and come join us on April 29th!

What happens when Durham’s committees and commissions collaborate on Earth Day?  It becomes a great community event packed with information that can help your family benefit from a more Sustainable Durham!! 

Here are just some of the things planned for Durham’s April 29th Earth Day event between 10AM and 2PM at 66 Main Street:

• Learn about the benefits of composting and about how it helps the environment – and your garden.
• Learn about new tax credits and rebates available when you weatherize your home or install an energy efficient HVAC system.
• Learn about the sustainable value of local food production and get your questions answered by members of the Agricultural Commission
• Take an up-close look at Electric Vehicles and talk with dealers and owners.
• Get tips and have your questions answered about recycling right.
• Get first dibs at Swap Shop treasures.
• Explore a working solar system and talk to Durham families about their experiences investing in solar energy.
• Learn about the value of Durham’s conservation work and how you can enjoy our conserved land.
• Plus, lots more!

In the past, the Town of Durham has asked the State of NH Department of Transportation to review the layout and design of the intersection of Madbury Road and Route 4. Due to a large number of accidents there, the Town has requested that safety improvements be made. NHDOT has responded favorably to this request. Matt Lampron, Project Manager of NHDOT and Darren Blood of GM2 Inc. attended the Town Council meeting of April 17, 2023, to present several options for increased safety measures at this intersection. After an informative discussion and numerous questions, the Council endorsed the roundabout design above, which will be further evaluated and refined by NHDOT. Residents living along Madbury Road near the intersection can expect outreach from NHDOT beginning this summer. Construction would not be expected until approx. 2026 and would take around 12 months for completion. The NHDOT project would be integrated with the Town’s own Madbury Road improvements, which would, if things go as scheduled, be in the final stages in 2026.  

Former Administrative Assistant to the Administrator, Jennie Berry, was recognized for her 33 years of service at the April 17, 2023 Town Council meeting. Jennie retired on January 31, 2023.

DURHAM WAS WELL REPRESENTED AT THE BOSTON MARATHON!

Congratulations to the following Durham residents who completed the Boston Marathon this past Monday!

• Anne Broussard
• Emily Innis
• Marsha Kavanagh
• Bob Kennedy
• Tom Miller
• Vicki Miller
• Janet Perkins-Howland
• Holley Samuel
• Phil Vaughn

Durham residents Anne Broussard and Bob Kennedy after finishing the Boston Marathon Courtesy, Janet Perkins-Howland

DURHAM GREAT BAY ROTARY ANNUAL FLOWER SALE

Durham Great Bay Rotary is having their second annual flower sale and would love if you would support this great cause. They have expanded their flower offerings this year to include three types of lilacs and an option for hydrangea plants as well. Plants are $50 and can be picked up (or delivered to you) the weekend of May 13-14. These make a great client gift! Funds raised from this sale support the Rotary's charitable fund which helps to support the scholarship program for high school seniors, the boot & shoe program which provides new sneaker and boots to families in need, and lots of great organizations in the area. These are high quality local plants! If you have any questions, you can contact Will Lenharth at will@lenharth.com

If you have any interest in supporting Durham Great Bay Rotary’s Lilac fundraiser you can order Lilac plants and Hydrangeas by clicking HERE.

Friends, family, current and past councilors, and current and past employees came together this past Wednesday evening to honor Lorrie Pitt and Jennie Berry. Thank you to all who came out wish these two ladies all the best in their retirement.

Durham resident Marsha Kavanagh at the Boston Marathon Courtesy Janet Perkins-Howland

CLIMATE-THEMED MOVIES TO BE SHOWN STARTING APRIL 22

Climate movies will be shown weekly beginning on Earth Day, April 22, at the Durham Unitarian Universalist Fellowship church. Below is a list of the upcoming movies. All movies begin at 7:00 p.m.

• April 22 - "Current Revolution" climate change and the energy transition
• April 29 - "The Letter" Laudato Si encyclical, with four frontline leaders
• May 6 - "The Breakdown" climate change, culminating in "What You Dan Do"

For more information, contact Michael Fleming, Durham Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 207-615-2324.

Are you interested in local waterways? Would you enjoy mornings out with other volunteers, collecting and testing water samples from the tributaries and freshwater reaches of the Oyster River? Please consider joining us! Monitors go out in small groups from May-October, taking monthly water samples from streambanks or bridges and recording data on water clarity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity. Training is provided. Levels of involvement can vary from a few times a season to more, depending on your time and interests. This program is sponsored by the Oyster River Watershed Association (http://www.oysterriver.org), the NH Dept. of Environmental Services’ Volunteer River Assessment Program (NH VRAP), and the UNH/Durham Water Treatment Plant. If you are aged 16+ and would like to learn more, please email Thomas Lee at tom.lee@unh.edu

ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING PLANNED FOR APRIL 28

For 45 years, the Town of Durham has proudly held its status as the oldest Tree City USA community in New Hampshire. In keeping with tradition, the Town will celebrate Arbor Day on Friday, April 28th, at 10:00 AM by planting a Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) public shade tree within the Madbury Road / Main Street traffic island. Representatives from the Land Stewardship Committee will be joining other members of the Town and Durham Public Works to celebrate this event.

Additionally, four new Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) public shade trees will be planted next week on Main Street in front of Beyond Escape NH and Breaking New Grounds. These trees will replace the existing Japanese Zelkovas (Zelkova Serrata), which have significantly declined over the years. To ensure that these have the best chance to thrive, Durham Public Works will remove portions of the brick surrounding the existing trees that have restricted their growth and survivability. They will also amend the soil to create an improved growing medium. The Town of Durham remains committed to its long-standing tradition of promoting and protecting its trees, ensuring a greener and more sustainable community for all. 

DID YOU KNOW? - RECYCLE YOUR EMPTY WINE & SPIRITS BOTTLES

New Hampshire Liquor Commission and Jack Daniel’s are launching a first-of-its-kind recycling program to encourage customers to return and recycle glass bottles.

On the below listed Saturdays between 11am-1pm, bring empty glass wine and spirits bottles to the designated New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet locations to be recycled. ***Please note specific dates and times of bottle redemption locations below.

If you bring at least 12 empty glass wine or spirits bottles, you will receive a coupon valid for $25 off a purchase of $150 or more. 

April 29 – Portsmouth NH Liquor & Wine Outlet (605 US-1 BYP South)

May 6 – Hampton North NH Liquor & Wine Outlet (I-95 Northbound)

All collected glass bottles will be taken to Recycleworks, a state-of-the-art recycling facility, to be crushed into glass cullet and will then be used to generate new glass bottles for beverages.

Source: www.liquorandwineoutlets.com

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee

Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at Durhamrecycles603@gmail.com

Durham residents Tom Miller and Vicki Miller at the Boston Marathon Courtesy, Tom & Vicki Miller

AGE OF CHAMPIONS HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR COMING TO DURHAM

The 2023 Age of Champions Health & Wellness Fair will be held this Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 10 AM – 1 PM at the UNH Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham, NH and will feature free parking. The Age of Champions Health & Wellness Fair is a community-oriented inter-generational wellness event, made possible by the Center of Aging and Community Living (CACL) in partnership with UNH and several vendors and sponsors from throughout the New England region. The event provides high-impact, real-world experience for UNH students about to head out to the workforce and introduces the community to informational resources, organizations that serve older adults, demonstrations, and workshops to engage participants in the joy of healthy aging.

This year long time Durham residents, Gayle & Bob Hylen, will be receiving the Excellence in Volunteerism Award.

For more information, contact Bridget Drake at bridget.drake@unh.edu or click HERE.

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CLIMATE ACTION MASTER PLAN 

The Planning Board is holding a public hearing on the draft Climate Action Master Plan on Wednesday, April 26. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm and the hearing will be held shortly after that. This draft chapter of the master plan was prepared by Kyle Pimental, Principal Planner with the Strafford Regional Planning Commission, in collaboration with representatives from all Town departments. The Town adopted 10 chapters of the master plan in 2015 and a future land use chapter in 2017.  Given the critical nature of climate change, the staff and the regional planning agency thought it worthwhile to pursue grant funding to develop this new chapter. The total project cost of $26,310 was covered with a New Hampshire Coastal Resilience Municipal Planning Grant of $17,540, $3,500 from the Town of Durham, and a match in staff and volunteer time equivalent to $5,270. You can view the draft plan HERE. There is a lot of excellent information about climate change in general and its potential impacts upon the town of Durham. You can see the 2015 master plan documents HERE.  Please feel free to speak at the public hearing or to send an email with any comments to the Town Planner at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us

Durham Resident Janet Perkins-Howland finishing the last mile of the Boston Marathon, Courtesy Janet Perkins-Howland

BULKY WASTE COLLECTION BEGINS MAY 1

The Spring Bulky Waste Residential Curbside Collection Program begins on May 1st at 7:00 AM. Please place acceptable bulky waste items curbside no earlier than April 29th. The Raymond A. LaRoche, Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center located at 100 Durham Point Road will accept bulky waste items free of charge on May 2nd, 4th, 9th, and 11th from 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Residents are encouraged to visit the facility during these hours to ensure proper recycling of their materials occurs.

Durham Public Works and its contractor, Pichette Brothers Construction started phase 1 of the Emerson Road Watermain Replacement Project this week. To connect an isolation valve to the existing Madbury Road watermain, the contractor reduced Madbury Road at the Emerson Road intersection to one lane of alternating traffic on Tuesday and Wednesday. Later in the week, the team installed 100 feet of new 8” ductile iron pipe.

SEMI-ANNUAL GATE VALVE EXERCISING PROGRAM - Ongoing

The UNH/Durham Water System began its semi-annual gate valve exercising program this week. It is important to exercise watermain gate valves to ensure that they function correctly and can be operated when necessary. Over time, valves may become stuck or difficult to turn due to sediment buildup, rust, or other factors. Exercising the valves involves opening and closing them several times, which helps to clear and sediment or debris and keeps the valve mechanism from seizing up.

Exercising water main gate valves is a preventative maintenance measure that can help avoid issues such as watermain breaks, low water pressure, or water quality problems. It also helps to identify any valves that are in need of repair or replacement before they become compromised. Additionally, exercising valves on a regular basis can improve the efficiency of the water distribution system, ensuring that water is delivered to customers at the desired pressure and flow rate.

Following the planned winter construction shut down, project contractor Apex construction has remobilized back to the wastewater treatment site to continue construction of the odor control project at the biosolids handling building and storage tanks. Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) has been placed in the odor control vessels, fans and motors have been set, and piping to the new units nears completion. An interim start up is anticipated for May 2023 using a temporary control panel while the permanent control panel, with a longer lead time, is manufactured. 

SCRAP METAL RECYCLING – A Reminder

Durham Public Works would like to remind residents that items disposed of in the scrap metal pile at the Raymond A. LaRoche, Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center must be free of all fluids, i.e. petroleum products used in internal combustion engines. The Transfer Station accepts used oil year round and gasoline/diesel/kerosene may be disposed of at the Durham Public Works Facility on Household Hazardous Waste Day in October.

Durham Public Works’ Facilities and Grounds Supervisor, Nick Bennion completed repairs to the oil shed at the Raymond A. LaRoche, Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center this week. The existing 30+ year-old roofing materials were replaced along with the trim and soffit boards. Serve With Liberty volunteers will apply a fresh coat of paint to the structure during the week of May 1st. 

FACILITY HVAC PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

Durham Public Works’ HVAC contractor, ENE Systems of NH began a Spring preventative maintenance of the air conditioning and air handling systems at the Library, Town Hall, Police Department, Parks + Recreation Facility and Public Works this week.

The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is a critical infrastructure component of a facility. They provide a comfortable indoor environment for visitors and employees by controlling the temperature, humidity, and air quality. Preventative maintenance of an HVAC system will help ensure that it runs as efficiently as possible, avoiding costly breakdowns and premature failure of wear components. Other benefits include increased air quality and overall comfort. The HVAC systems within the newer Town facilities, namely the Town Hall, Police Station, and Library are advanced systems that require specialized training and licensing to service and repair. As these systems continue to age, a yearly preventative maintenance plan is essential for their continued uninterrupted operation. 

There will be an Active Shooter & Emergency Workshop on April 26, 2023 from 3:00 – 5:30 pm at the Lee Public Safety Complex, 20 George Bennett Rd, Lee.

This Workshop is offered by the Seacoast Village Project (SVP), the Active Retirement Association (ARA), & the Lee Police Department. Everyone is welcome to attend but registration is required.

This important workshop is based on the Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event (CRASE) which provides practical information on how to respond to a shooter situation. Much of the information is applicable to fire and weather emergencies as well. Lessons learned from previous shooter events will be presented along with slides and videos. While this can be a difficult topic, it is an important one to address in these times. There will be time for discussion and Q & A. The workshop is being presented to state and university system employees throughout New Hampshire. It is highly recommended to anyone wanting to be prepared for the unexpected. Click HERE to register

Instructor Steve Cooper is an Exercise & Training Officer with NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management and conducts workshops statewide focusing on active shooter and emergency response scenarios. Steve has 27 years of law enforcement experience (Retired NH State Trooper as a Patrol Sergeant and Commander of the Special Events Response Team) and is the CEO/Founder of the Tier One Response and Operations, LLC, which provides training for professionals. He is a United States Army Veteran and has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Norwich University and a master’s degree in homeland security and emergency preparedness from New England College.

The Durham Professional Firefighters Local #2253 would like to introduce Smokey the Fire Dog. Smokey will give short tips on Fire Safety, weekly so Parents can generate conversation with their children about Fire Safety. Keep an eye out in the weekly updates These small questions and tips are a great way for you as a Parent to teach your kids about Fire Safety, the more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #16

BIKE SAFETY - ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET

Now that the weather is getting warmer, it’s time to go outside and enjoy time with friends. It is best to always wear a helmet while riding a bike. Even the slightest blow to the head can cause an injury. Here is a great link for prices, fit, construction, and other helpful tips.  Click HERE for more information. 

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD NEWS

In a short meeting on Wednesday the board received several updates and approved excellent candidates for open positions in the district. The board voted to change the language of the posted agenda to reflect changes in state regulations. The public comment portion of each meeting will be open 30 minutes, even if the board has moved on to other business.

The board is pleased to welcome several new employees to the district to fill important positions. Nanette Viellieu will be the new SAU Human Resources Director, Nancy Jo Michaud will become the Assistant Director of Student Services at the high school, and Maredith St. Onge will take over as the new School Nutrition Director for the District.

The board discussed a plan for the staff professional development days at the end of the school year and an update from Dr. Morse on his testimony in the ConVal lawsuit. (ORCSD is one of 19 districts suing the state for not meeting its constitutional obligation to fund schools adequately.) Dr Morse complimented the Kim Saunders of the ConVal school district, for her performance under pressure on the stand as she was cross examined by the state.

Have a happy and safe spring break!

Above is a chart of membership options for this summer. Please note that two types of seasonal passes are back, thanks to requests from Durham residents.

The Outdoor Pool is experiencing an increase in costs to operate. As a result, the fees for this summer have gone up as well. However, memberships will be available at last summer’s rate from April 19 to May 31. To access the Outdoor Pool website, please click HERE.

In addition, the Outdoor Pool is in need of summer lifeguards. Campus Recreation provides lifeguard certification classes, and the position pays $18 per hour this summer. Please have interested individuals contact Director of Campus Recreation, Dave Charette, directly at David.charette@unh.edu or 603.862.1455.