 |
A glimpse of the bay from Cedar Point Rd. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
The dog days of summer have finally arrived. Enjoy them while they last!
|
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT IS DONE LOCALLY IN DURHAM - Some thoughts from Admin. Selig
I have long argued that while government at the Federal level commands the majority of attention in the US, in many respects what happens locally impacts citizens much more profoundly. You've only to quickly skim through this week's "Friday Updates" to see why.
In the July 19, 2018 edition of the NY Times, columnist David Brooks wrote a very interesting piece that explores this notion further. In The Localist Revolution, Brooks writes,
"Localism is the belief that power should be wielded as much as possible at the neighborhood, city and state levels. Localism is thriving — as a philosophy and a way of doing things — because the national government is dysfunctional while many towns are reviving. Politicians in Washington are miserable, hurling ideological abstractions at one another, but mayors and governors are fulfilled, producing tangible results. Localism is also thriving these days because many cities have more coherent identities than the nation as a whole. It is thriving because while national politics takes place through the filter of the media . . ., local politics by and large does not. It is thriving because we’re in an era of low social trust. People really have faith only in the relationships right around them, the change agents who are right on the ground.”
Read the full David Brooks piece HERE.
Here in Durham (and within the Oyster River School District), we strive for civil discourse and recognize a person’s right to advocate ides that are different from your own.
Thomas Mann perhaps said it best: "Democracy is a means of living together despite our differences. Democratic deliberation is an alternative to physical violence. It is predicated on the assumption that it’s possible to disagree agreeably, that it’s better to laugh than cry, that one can vigorously contest the positions of one’s adversary without questioning his or her personal integrity or motivation, and that parties to a debate are entitled to the presumption that their views are legitimate if not correct.”
It is still possible in Durham to agree to disagree, and to go out for a cup of coffee together the next day.
|
SOME GENERAL UPDATES FROM DEPARTMENTS…
The Durham/UNH Water System reports that a broken valve has precluded artificial recharge at spruce hole for several weeks. It proved hard to obtain a replacement part but my understanding is that the part is now in hand to effectuate the needed repair. Fortunately, we have had quite a bit of rain and river levels are high.
Chief Kurz reports that UNH students return to Durham in about two weeks — August 24th.
The Boston Red Sox are doing very well this season. If the winning streak continues, we will initiate proactive planning to ensure the aftermath of World Series games remains peaceful and harmonious in Durham with 16,000 UNH students present.
The Leadership Team thought it made sense to explore further a bikeshare program of some kind and potentially initiate a PILOT program to see whether such a program would have merit in Durham.
Code Officer Audrey Cline reports that several trash violations are now proceeding through the court process to collect fines assessed. The Town has stepped upped its enforcement of these and zoning issues such as parking/no more than 3 unrelated in order to support our Durham neighborhoods.
Town Staff have been working to develop revisions to the minor site plan review process to make it both more understandable and efficient. The Planning Board will discuss in the near future.
IT Director Luke Vincent indicates that our statistics showing repair time on computer/IT issues has increased this past month. He will take a look at this.
DPW Director Mike Lynch reports the department has 22 active projects at the present time. To say DOW is busy is an understatement. Unfortunately, despite the departments best efforts, we simply do not have the staffing at DPW to keep up with demand. I expect to see a request from DPW for at least two additional positions as part of the requested DPW operation for 2019: Roadside mowing/maintenance; Highway Department.
Staff are working on their budget requests for FY 2019, which are to the Business Office by the end of August. Business Manager Jablonski and Admin. Selig will then review all department/board/committee/commission requests and Mr. Selig will work to develop a proposed budget to move forward to the Town Council by October 31st. Ms. Jablonski and Mr. Selig will meet with the Planning Board to discuss Capital Improvement Project requests on September 12th.
The Durham Fire Department is looking at the potential benefits of becoming an accredited public safety agency. In addition, 4 staff members will be attending water rescue training and one of our fire inspectors will attend 80 hrs. of inspection school.
Parks & Recreation is wrapping up its final week of summer camps.
The Parks & Recreation Committee is working to firm up the use agreements we have in place, or need to develop to put in place, for the use of town fields.
|
DURHAM'S 2018 STATISTICAL UPDATE HAS BEEN COMPLETED - Assessed values up 16%.
In accordance with New Hampshire state law, the Town of Durham has completed the Statistical Update of all real property with an effective date of April 1, 2018.
The tax year begins April 1st and ends on March 31st of a given year. The Town of Durham engaged the services of three companies to perform the Statistical Update of all property assessments throughout Durham. Municipal Resources, Inc. (MRI) updated the assessments of the residential properties; Property Valuation Advisors, LLC updated the assessments of the commercial/industrial properties and George Sansoucy, PE, LLC updated the assessments of the utility properties. All three companies have been working in conjunction with the Assessor’s Office.
As a result of the informal hearing process, second notices will be mailed the week of August 13th to those property owners whose assessments were adjusted from their preliminary assessment, which were mailed last June. Most property owners receiving a second notice scheduled an informal hearing with a representative from MRI or PVA and requested a review of their property. Also, property owners who did not attend the informal hearing process may also be receiving a second notification because an adjustment was made to their assessment based on new information presented at the hearings.
The purpose of a revaluation or statistical update is not to increase property taxes. The purpose is to update property assessments to reflect market value as of April 1, 2018 (the beginning of the tax year in New Hampshire) and to assess all properties fairly and equitably throughout the municipality. The newly revised assessments will be brought forward to the Town Council on August 20th. These assessments will be used for the 2018 December tax bills. The revised assessments will be posted on the Durham Assessor’s on-line database the week of August 20th.
The real estate market has changed significantly in Durham since 2013, which is when the last statistical update was completed. Although the overall assessed values have increased an average of 16%, this does not mean your property taxes are increasing. Assuming the town’s budget remains constant, the tax rate should decrease to compensate for the increased assessed values. Therefore, do not use the current tax rate to determine property taxes. Utilizing the total assessed value for the Town and the Town’s budget (which is yet to be determined), a new tax rate will be set by the Department of Revenue Administration sometime this fall.
If a property owner believes their assessment does not reflect market value, they may appeal their assessment through the local abatement process. Applications for abatements can be submitted after receipt of the December 2018 tax bill and are due by March 1, 2019. Applications are available on-line at the Town Office website or at the Assessor’s Office. These values do not include personal exemptions/credits such as elderly, veterans, blind, or solar.
The final assessments reveal the following information (based on MS-1 reports):
Total Assessed Value (Taxable & Exempt)
2017: $2,315,035,971
2018: $2,690,440,219
% Change: +16%
Total Assessed Value (Taxable Only)
2017: $1,025,191,052
2018: $1,201,295,722
% Change: +17%
Property Type % Change
Residential Properties: +14%
Vacant Land: +13%
Condominiums: +20%
Commercial: +23%
Per RSA 75:1, the municipality is required to maintain all property assessments at their fair and true value. The International Association of Assessing Officials (IAAO) has established statistical guidelines that are enforced by the NH Department of Revenue Administration (DRA). If the municipality falls outside of the parameters set forth by IAAO, the municipality is required to update the assessments to bring them back in-line with these guidelines. Those standards, along with the results of Durham’s 2018 statistical update are as followed:
IAAO Standards 2017 2018
Median Ratio: 0.90 – 1.10 0.88 1.00
Coefficient of Dispersion (COD) < 0.20 .09 .05
Price Related Differential (PRD) 0.98 – 1.03 1.00 1.00
|
NEW WAYFINDING SIGNAGE BEING INSTALLED AROUND UNH CAMPUS – Durham, too, explores off campus wayfinding signage.
In urban settings, wayfinding specialists develop signage and information systems for both pedestrians and motorists, who each have unique challenges navigating streets and roadways. These information systems help people develop “mental maps” of the terrain and simplify their routes to the extent possible. Where large numbers of visitors engage with Durham and campus streets, such signage can be very useful in efficiently moving people around with the least amount of congestion, carbon footprint, and aggravation.
Roll Barresi & Associates out of Cambridge, MA has been working with UNH to develop this new signage over the last several years with input from Durham.
Town staff is planning to meet with representatives from the firm to explore developing a modest suite of signage (with a different yet complimentary design from that utilized by UNH) to help visitors find downtown parking, utilize desired roadways to access UNH, and to facilitate the flow of traffic through the community.
|
EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 18. WILL CELEBRATE DURHAM'S WORKING LANDSCAPE OF FARMS, FORESTS, AND GARDENS
The Agricultural Commission is pleased to present the sixth annual Durham Farm Day, taking place on Saturday, August 18 from 10am to 7:30pm, at 10 different locations across town and campus. Activities will include farm tours, hayrides, milking of the dairy cows at UNH’s Fairchild Dairy, sheep shearing, and haying and plowing demonstrations with antique tractors. Walking tours of “Food Friendly Yards” in downtown Durham and tours of current research being conducted at UNH’s Woodman Horticultural Farm, please note pre-registration for tours is required. Local foods and cold drinks will be on sale at Emery Farm and Tecce Farm, and at Young’s Restaurant. The Durham Historic Association’s museum will be open. New this year, a picnic supper will be held at Town Landing; all are invited to bring their own picnic and the Durham Agricultural Commission will supply steamed sweet corn from Emery Farm and Tecce Farm. A full description of event times and locations is available on the Durham Agricultural Commission’s page on the Town website.
Please contact Theresa Walker of the Agricultural Commission for information, mailto:theresawalker@comcast.net, 603-659-7226.
|
PROPOSAL TO SUBDIVIDE LOT AT INTERSECTION OF MAIN STREET AND PETTEE BROOK TO CONSTRUCT NEW MIXED USE BUILDING ON THE CORNER
A proposal is now before the Planning Board now from Doug Clark to subdivide the lot at the intersection of Main Street and Pettee Brook and construct a new mixed use building on the corner. Mr. Clark has referred to Durham’s B. Dennis Plan as an inspiration for his project. Here is some background information about the B. Dennis Plan, formally called the Durham Commercial Core Strategic Plan.
The Town of Durham hired Bill Dennis, a renowned Providence-based architect and town planner and proprietor of B. Dennis Town Design, to develop a plan for the revitalization of downtown. His team analyzed the downtown area, conducted a community charrette from November 5 to November 9, 2009, and prepared the plan which can be viewed HERE.
There are five parts of the plan:
A – Process
B – Analysis
C – The Illustrative Master Plan
D – Zoning Review
E – Implementation
|
Cedar Point Rd. on Thursday afternoon. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
CEDAR POINT ROAD IS NOW ... PAVED!
After nearly three decades of discussion, the Town this past week at long last paved the gravel portion of Cedar Point Road located off Route 4 in the vicinity of Back River Road. The project has taken years of discussion and planning, and involves significant drainage improvements to enable the roadway to remain intact. This is a non-standard roadway project and is narrower than Durham would prefer but it is a public roadway and the time had come for an upgrade. Formerly home to many seasonal camps, Cedar Point Road now has year-round homes that are very close together along the shoreline of the bay.
|
2ND QUARTER STATISTICS OF POLICE RESPONSES TO RENTAL PROPERTIES SHOWS CONTINUING DECLINE
The second quarter data from 2018 confirms and mirrors the decrease that this period has demonstrated in a number of categories including arrests. Data confirms what patrol officers have been conveying to the police administration that calls for service at rental properties have been decreasing this semester including at the larger, more modern complexes such as the Cottages, Madbury Commons, Orion, and the Lodges. Indeed, the modern professionally managed large student housing properties are not a significant issue in Durham — it is the single family non-owner occupied properties that often cause the most problems for the community in terms of behavior, trash, noise, etc.
In analyzing police response to rental property over the past 3 years, there the Police Department reports a 32% decrease in 2018 (88) over data collected in 2017 (130), and a 19% decrease from 2016 (109).
To reiterate what constitutes a call for police response to a rental property for a “disturbance,” the disturbance may equate to a fight in progress, loud music, vandalism, or other similar disruptive behavior that warrants police response.
View the full report HERE.
|
Construction at the Crommet Creek Bridge this week. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
|
|
|
|
|
UPDATE - CROMMET CREEK BRIDGE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION - Final Guardrail Installation Extended to 8/17.
Crommet Creek/Durham Point Road bridge will be closed extending to Friday August 17th .
Any questions, please call Town Engineer, April Talon at 603-86-5578 or mailto:atalon@ci.durham.nh.us
|
New deer fence posts at WHF community gardens. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
NEW DEER FENCE INSTALLED AT WAGON HILL FARM COMMUNITY GARDENS
The gardeners’ plots have been harassed by hungry deer over the last few seasons. The new fence will have a fine mesh that will not diminish viewscapes, but will be strong enough and high enough to keep out the pesky deer. The project is being undertaken/funded by the Community Gardens, not the Town.
|
WORKING WITH UNH TO ADDRESS SOME PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES IN DURHAM/UNH CAMPUS
The Durham Fire and Police Departments are both serviced by the Strafford County Communications Center located in Dover. About 10 years ago, a transition was made from UNH dispatch to Strafford due to the cost differentials. While these cost savings have been significant, Durham assembled an infrastructure of microwave connections combined with devices known as “repeaters” which carry the radio traffic for both entities.
One of these devices that service the Fire Department is located on UNH's Edgewood Water tank which was slated for demolition this summer, but will likely occur now in the late-fall.
Durham and UNH officials are working closely to relocate that communication device to the top of Stoke Hall before the demolition occurs. It appears that the transition is moving forward at this point in time. The cost, which was not anticipated in the FY 2018 budget, is in the $40,000 range. These funds will be taken from the Town’s contingency account.
Additionally, the communications team comprised of Luke Vincent, Chief Dave Emanuel, Chief Dave Kurz, and Town Councilor Jim Lawson is also investigating the potential of constructing a tower on Town-owned land immediately adjacent to the Beech Hill water tank. This location would enhance the microwave sight alignment due to the topographical position and serve as the “lynchpin” of the Durham system. Expect to see a CIP item for this project as part of the Fy 2019 budget, with additional important radio/communications enhancements thereafter. A single communications tower is in the $100,000 - $140,000 range. The full project build out over several years involving several sites may well exceed $1 million.
|
DURHAM TO BE A TRAIL BLAZER - A GLIMPSE AT WHAT SEA LEVEL RISE MAY LOOK LIKE LOCALLY … IN THE FUTURE
The Strafford Regional Planning Commission has been in contact with a professor at Northeastern University about a very unique art project that would seek to install a handful of markers that would represent flooding/climate change events that happened in the future (it has to do with time travel!).
The project – in summary – would be to work with a community and identify locations where 5 - 12 markers could be installed that would show a flooding or other climate change event that happened years from now. It’s supposed to represent a new way of looking at potential flooding, etc. as a future that has already happened.
The Northeaster professor already has the funding to do the project and a handful of graduate students who are working on the online website and phone app that would go along with the project.
The SRPC thought Durham might be a candidate for this project. Durham staff took a look at the project this week and decided to move forward as part of it. Cambridge, MA is also participating in the project. UNH Cooperative Extension/SeaGrant plans to integrate this initiative into their outreach with the Oyster River School District 5th grade classes this coming spring as well.
The professor and his team already have the funding allocated and have begun work on the digital applications, and are ready to work directly with a community as soon as possible. There would be no cash cost to the community – just participation.
|
Mill Pond Dam Friday morning. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
TOWN STAFF MET WITH NH DAM BUREAU THIS WEEK REGARDING CLASSIFICATION OF MILL POND DAM - Estimated Cost for New Dam at Low Hazard Classification in $3.5 to $5 Million Dollar Range
At the June 18, 2018 Town Council meeting, Town Engineer April Talon provided an overview of the latest 2018 Mill Pond Study completed by Weston and Sampson.
Weston & Sampson was chosen through a RFQ process to perform preliminary engineering design services for the Mill Pond Restoration Project in the amount of $25,000. The focus of the study was to evaluate three main items:
- Sediment transport and accumulation in the pond;
- Mill Pond Dam gate structure review; and
- Watershed planning and nitrogen source assessment.
Here is a very general overview of their findings...
Sediment Transport Accumulation in the Pond
Weston & Sampson evaluated sediment erosion and deposition patterns in the Oyster River-Mill Pond system to determine the potential for long-term sedimentation trends in Mill Pond. Unfortunately, the Mill Pond is slowly transitioning into a marshy area and dredging has been determined to be cost prohibitive by the Town Council.
A hydraulic model was developed to evaluate long term trends in sedimentation within the Mill Pond in four different scenarios and is summarized below.
A) existing conditions (with gates closed year round)
Erosion would continue in the river along Oyster River Road from Garden Lane to Mill Pond Road. Sediment would primarily be deposited in the upstream end of Mill Pond Dam Impoundment (not in the lower pond as we had thought).
B) gates open year round
Sediment would be deposited to the upstream end of Mill Pond near Smith Park Lane (as much as 4ft over 20 years).
C) gates open during the spring and summer
Primarily the same as Scenario B
D) with the dam removed
Uniform sediment deposition between former dam site and Route 108 bridge. A formal sediment transport analysis study would be required as part of a dam removal project to determine the volume of sediments and impact to downstream channel.
Mill Pond Dam Gate Structure Review & Meeting with NH Dam Bureau this Week
Current NHDES Dam Safety guidelines require the Mill Pond Dam to safely pass the 50-year flood with a minimum of 1 foot of freeboard below the lowest abutment because the structure is classified as a Low Hazard Dam. The existing historic dam structure cannot accomplish this.
Weston and Sampson focused on an analysis of the gate structure of the dam in order to confirm the hydraulic capacity of the dam and to evaluate potential gate modifications that might increase the dam’s capacity in order to meet NHDES’s modern day dam safety regulations.
The most the Mill Pond Dam can discharge in its current configuration is 1,360 cfs (0 feet of spillway and the low-level gate opened). The dam’s current design flood of 1,452 cfs was estimated more than ten years ago. This design flood does not account for the current climate change-driven impacts to extreme rainfall patterns or for inflows from the Lamprey River.
Weston and Sampson prepared a rainfall-runoff model for Mill Pond Dam and its upgradient watershed using the industry-standard HydroCAD computer program. Results of the simulations generated by the model indicate that during a 50 year, 24 hour storm event, the design flow from the Oyster River PLUS the overflow from the Lamprey River into the Mill Pond, without considering lag or attenuation, is estimated to be approximately 6,000 cfs.
Weston and Sampson then examined four scenarios of gate structure modification to determine if those scenarios would sufficiently increase the ability of the dam to discharge the design flow required by the dam bureau.
The four scenarios that were examined include keeping the existing gates, opening the gates, extending the spillway, replacing the gates and adding additional gates. None of these scenarios ultimately are sufficient to bring the historic Mill Pond Dam into compliance with today's Dam Safety regulations given the revised design flood.
The NHDES Dam Bureau has preliminarily reviewed these findings and agrees with the above conclusion that the historic dam currently lacks discharge capacity and will only meet the discharge requirement if the dam is greatly altered from its current configuration.
The NHDES Dam Bureau confirmed this week that even though the Mill Pond Dam is an historic structure, it will still have to meet the new safety requirements for a Low Hazard Dam with updated flow conditions. On August 6, 2018, Public Works Director Mike Lynch, Engineer April Talon, and Administrator Todd Selig met with representatives from the NH Dam Bureau to discuss the classification of the Mill Pond Dam. Town staff have asked the NHDES Dam Bureau to review whether the Low Hazard Dam classification is the proper classification. The Dam Bureau indicated it will take another look at this issue.
The Town Engineer and Weston and Sampson Engineers estimate the cost of constructing a new dam that meets current requirements for a Low Hazard Dam would be in the $3.5 to $5 million dollar range.
Watershed Planning and Nitrogen Source Assessment
Further work is required to complete this portion of the study. During the preliminary presentation of this topic, Rob Roseen of Waterstone Engineering, a subconsultant of Weston and Sampson, presented a summary of delineated subwatershed areas and their associated nitrogen loading to the Mill Pond.
DPW plans to meet with Waterstone Engineering in the future to visit sites where low cost BMP’s can be designed and implemented to reduce non-point pollution and remove nutrients from entering the Mill Pond.
On July 1, 1013, the Town Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2013-20 indicating that the Mill Pond Dam added "immeasurably to the rich fabric of the community and that the Town shall take steps needed to preserve it for the duration of its useful life.”
Next Steps...
Durham has organized a site visit to the Town of Exeter on August 23, 2018 to learn from that community’s experience in evaluating/addressing concerns surrounding the former Great Dam. That structure was ultimately removed and the river there restored to a free-flowing, natural state.
We also await follow up from the NH Dam Bureau concerning the classification of the dam. If the classification were to be lowered, residents should understand that significant work would still be required to rebuild the gate structure and to repair the dam itself, which the Town Engineer estimates could be in the +/- $1 million range. And repairs to the the dam would not address the water quality/habitat concerns within the impoundment, which has been an item of discussion for several years.
|
Art made from items found at the Swap Shop. Courtesy Brooke Baldwin
|
FRIENDS FOREVER ARTIST IN RESIDENCE MAKES ART FROM SWAP SHOP ITEMS
Brooke Baldwin sent along photos from Friend Forever's first artist-in-residence program that the Durham-based organization sponsored last month. The artist, Nechama, had a wonderful expedition to the Durham Swap Shop with Ms. Baldwin and the art created was made from the treasures found there. It’s fun from time to time to celebrate what a terrific community asset the swap shop is!
|
At the May 7, 2018 Town Council meeting, the Council passed a resolution naming the Swap Shop in honor of longtime Swap Shop volunteer, Linda Hollister (pictured above). Courtesy DPW
|
THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AT THE DURHAM SWAP SHOP!
The Durham Swap Shop is located at the Transfer Center and is a gathering spot where residents drop off items they no longer need and find items they can use. This friendly and community supported “enterprise” began more than 14 years ago by Durham resident Linda Hollister who is often there greeting and volunteering. The Swap Shop has been very busy this summer no matter how hot, humid, or wet the weather! Residents continue to do a great job keeping things out of the waste stream and avoiding new purchases.
It is very appreciated when residents drop off items that are functional, clean/safe, and complete with parts BEFORE 2:00pm. Waiting until right before the Swap Shop closes (2:30pm) to drop off items makes it hard to put everything away in time before closing. Volunteers are present at the Swap Shop on Saturdays and Tuesdays and work diligently to organize, keep items “current”, move things, and answer questions. Thank you volunteers!
There’s been a recent “creep” of inappropriate items being dropped off at The Swap Shop. Inappropriate items could be obviously broken, excessively dirty/unsafe due to animals, or missing important pieces. Please remember that the purpose of the Swap Shop is to house items that most people would allow into their home or be used if it was wanted or needed. So if residents believe an item is too torn, used, dirty, etc. then probably it is time for it to be placed in the appropriate dumpster instead of on one of the Swap Shop tables. Thank you for taking the time to consider if the items are appropriate for the Swap Shop or the landfill, recycling, or repurposed in another way. Also please note that the Swap Shop is no longer accepting paperback or hard covered books until further notice due to the large number of books that it currently has on the shelves and in boxes.
What does it mean to be a volunteer? One or two visits PER YEAR is all it takes to help out.
Curious about the Swap Shop? Email HERE.
For volunteers that need to schedule, click HERE.
Items can be accepted at the Swap Shop from 7:15am - 2:00pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
|
FOOD FRIENDLY YARD TOUR ON FARM DAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 18Th
Durham Agricultural Commission encourages home food production and small scale farming. Come participate in the Food Friendly Yards walking Tour on Durham Farm Day, August 18th at 1:00. See how your neighbors are using their yards to grow food and provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife. We will tour 3 yards in the Faculty Neighborhood. Park and Meet on Mill Pond Rd. at 1:00 and walk to the first site on Chesley Drive. Registration is required by Friday, August 17. Please contact: Theresa Walker at 603-534-3913;or mailto:theresawalker@comcast.net.
Please include your phone number and email when you register.
|
JUMP ABOARD AT THE DURHAM/UNH STATION AND RIDE THE AMTRAK GREAT DOME CAR IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the Amtrak Great Dome Car, which will be operating on the following Downeaster trains August 11 - September 9, 2018:
MON - FRI: #680 • #681 • #686 • #687
SATURDAY: #690 • #691 • #698 • #699
SUNDAY: #692 • #693 • #696 • $697
Visit the Downeaster Dome Car web site for more information.
|
Former Durham Courthouse. Watercolor by Charles J. Manuel
|
DURHAM HISTORIC MUSEUM OPEN FOR THE SUMMER EVERY SATURDAY & TUESDAY
The Durham Historic Association Museum doors are open to the public again this summer - every Saturday and Tuesday from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Explore Durham's 400 year history in eight chronological periods, from the 17th century to the present, in air-conditioned comfort. Come see the latest exhibits and improvements to this historic space. The museum is located on the second floor of the old brick Town Hall/District Court building at the traffic light on the corner.
|
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.
|
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.
|
SUMMER SPLASH - SUNDAY, AUGUST 12TH, 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Durham Parks and Recreation and Committee invite you to the UNH outdoor pool for a fun night out with others from the community! Enjoy live music, a potluck style picnic dinner and family fun in and around the pool!! This is a FREE community event for all ages. Please visit HERE to sign up for the potluck dinner.
|
Looking for something fun to do at the library? Follow our Storywalk around the Durham Public Library's Rain Garden! Check out the fun story and learn some rain garden facts! Then come in to the library and check out some cool books.
All fall programing begins September 4th, stay tuned to the library's website for more information!
|
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."
________________________
1821 - Only one house remains to perpetuate the memory of Franklin City. Built on "Lot 36" by Ballard Pinkham, it was sold to John Emerson and taken up Oyster River by gundalow. A tomb by the River contains members of the Emerson family.
|
An unexpected image in the heart of the UNH campus- Catttails on Waterworks Road. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
|
|
|
|
|
