Friday, August 16, 2024

Six-year-old Wynni Fink catching his first ever bass alongside the Wiswall Road Bridge. Courtesy, Nathan Fink

A reminder that downtown Durham is open for business! With the ongoing construction this summer on Madbury Road, on Garrison Ave., as well as on Main Street near Holloway Commons, it's particularly important for residents to support Durham's many downtown merchants.

Monday night's full moon will be a supermoon/blue moon combination which is a rare phenomenon. The "super" part refers to the moon's orbit, which brings it slightly closer to Earth this month, making it appear bigger and brighter. The "blue" part means that this is the third of four full moons this season. The combination of a supermoon/blue moon can come as infrequently as 20 years apart, but in general 10 years is the average. The next one will be in January of 2037.

NEXT WEEK'S UNH MOVE-IN MEANS INCREASED TRAFFIC IN TOWN

UNH Student Move-In Weekend is approaching fast!

Organized UNH school opening activities will take place on Thursday, August 22, Friday, August 23, and Saturday, August 24. There will be a noticeable increase in traffic congestion in the downtown corridor, specifically on Garrison Avenue at the Madbury Road Intersection. Traffic on Garrison Avenue will be converted to three lanes on all three days, moving in one direction from Madbury Road to Main Street.

The area of Main Street, and Mill Road near McDaniel Drive will also see a significant increase in traffic.

Traffic impacts should start to improve by 3:30 PM at the latest.

We recommend all residents find alternate routes on those days to help alleviate any possible congestion if they are not visiting Durham's many terrific local businesses.

The 11th Annual Farm Day is this Saturday, August 17th and showcases farms and gardens across Durham, Lee, and Madbury. The event takes place rain or shine and is free and family friendly. Here’s a small sample of activities:

• LaRoche Farm – 41 Bennett Road, Durham, 10am – 4pm, - hayrides, community picnic at noon featuring sweet corn from Tecce’s Farm, honey and maple syrup tasting, Durham’s farming history, and much more.
• Misty Meadows Herbal Center – 183 Wednesday Hill Road, Lee –10am – 4pm - Forest plant identification guided walk at 10:30, https://www.mistymeadows.org/
• UNH Kingman Research Farm – 334 Knox Marsh Road, Madbury – Tractors Galore from 10am – Noon - Look, touch, and sit in farming and forestry trucks, tractors, loggers!
• Great Bay Wool Works at Liberty Hall Farm – 62 Bennett Road, Durham, 10am – 2pm – Meet this award-winning sheep flock and learn how wool grows, https://greatbaywoolworks.com/
• Garden Tour at the Langley Family Home – 234 Longmarsh Road, Durham, 11am – Noon – Guided tour at 11am of a 3,500 sq. ft. collaborative, neighborhood-scale garden featuring no-dig and vertical gardening techniques, goat-herd management, and more.

There is much more to see and do. Download the full list of Farm Day events HERE.

ADMINISTRATOR SELIG TO ATTEND UPCOMING ICMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN PITTSBURGH

Mr. Selig plans to attend the 2024 ICMA Annual Conference, September 21-25 in Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Annual Conference is the world’s largest local government event of the year. With more than 5,500 public service professionals in attendance, it is an education-focused conference featuring some of the best and brightest professionals from local governments around the world.

The ICMA Annual Conference brings together an educational programming spanning four days with keynotes speakers, networking events, and an exhibit filled with technology and solutions available for local government.

PUBLIC FORUM FOR THE DURHAM DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE

On Thursday, August 29, from 7-8:30 p.m. come and hear from the 5 candidates running for 4 seats to represent Durham District 10 in the state legislature. These candidates are incumbents Marjorie Smith, Timothy Horrigan and Loren Selig, along with Gale Bailey and Wayne Burton. Al Howland who represents District 20 covering Durham, Lee, Madbury and Dover Ward 4 will also be participating. The forum will be held in council chambers in Town Hall, and it will be broadcast live on DCAT and online through Zoom. To register for Zoom, please click HERE. The Council chamber doors will open at 6:30 PM. 

If you have questions for the candidates, please submit them to reganroman@comcast.net by noon on Monday, August 26.

Some neighborhood rabbits enjoying a stroll through a yard. Courtesy, Carol Birch

THE NH STATE PRIMARY IS COMING - DO YOU NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE?

The NH State Primary is September 10. Residents of Durham who are not yet registered to vote, may do so at the Town Clerk’s office any time that office is open. Residents who are already registered may change address or name, also at the Town Clerk’s office any time that office is open. Voters cannot change party at this time.

A person’s party is not important EXCEPT at a primary. The final date to change party has passed.  If you are registered as Undeclared, you may choose which ballot you want on the day of the primary election, and return to Undeclared as you leave the polls, or any time thereafter. You may check your status at https://app.sos.nh.gov/voterinformation. If you have trouble finding your personal information, please call the town clerk’s office. We have had a few instances where we had the wrong date of birth. 

Residents may also register to vote or change name with the Supervisors of the Checklist on the following date:

           Date:             Wednesday, September 4, 2024

           Time:             7:00 – 7:30 PM

           Place:            Durham Town Hall

This will be the last date for any new voter registrations until election day. Residents may register to vote at the polls (Oyster River High School) with proper identification. Please note that you must be a resident of Durham.

Applicants for registration should bring with them proofs of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Driver’s license and passport are helpful. Affidavits may be signed under oath if other proofs are lacking.  

ABSENTEE BALLOTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2024 NH STATE PRIMARY

Interested in voting in the 2024 NH State Primary, but afraid you can’t make it to the polls to vote in person on September 10, 2024? You may qualify for an absentee ballot. Please visit the Durham Town Clerk’s Office between 8am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday, or log onto the town’s website HERE for more information on absentee voting. Please note that absentee voting in New Hampshire is different than other US States and is limited to only certain voters that qualify. Please direct all questions to Town Clerk Rachel Deane by emailing rdeane@ci.durham.nh.us or calling 603-868-5577.

On Tuesday, in a small ceremony with family and friends, a new stone bench was installed at the Town Landing dedicated to the memory of long-time Durham residents Phyllis Bennett and Ray Belles.

LOCAL BEEKEEPER, LEE ALEXANDER, INTERVIEWED BY NH PUBLIC RADIO

Two weeks ago, Durham resident, Lee Alexander, was interviewed at Emery Farm by a reporter from NH Public Radio (NHPR). In particular, Amanda Pirani was interested in producing a “News Story” about the impact of climate change on honeybees. 

To access the link to both the written and audio versions that was posted on the NHPR website, please click HERE.

Lee states that "Although the written text and audio versions are slightly different, both are reasonably accurate and informative."

BLUE OCEAN SOCIETY PRESENTS FINDINGS OF DURHAM SHORELINE CLEANUP TO TOWN COUNCIL

At Monday night's Town Council meeting, Jen Kennedy, Executive Director of Blue Ocean Society, spoke about the Society and its goal to protect marine life in the Gulf of Maine. The Society regularly does ocean shoreline cleanups to keep debris out of the ocean. Five cleanups were done in Durham in 2023 which yielded 272 pounds of litter.

To see the Powerpoint presentation given by Ms. Kennedy to the Council, please click HERE. You can also visit Blue Ocean Society's website HERE.

The Planning Board recognized Bill McGowan for his long-time service to the board at its meeting on Wednesday, August 14. We thank Bill for his many contributions to the Town over a nearly 20-year stretch, from 2005 to 2024.

Looking for a way to dispose of hard-to-recycle items in a sustainable way?

We Fill Good in Kittery and the Replenish Refillery  in Dover accept hard-to-recycle items that might otherwise end up in our landfill by recycling them through TerraCycle - a global recycling company that specializes in collecting and recycling hard-to-recycle waste. 

For $15, We Fill Good will accept a tote bag full of hard-to-recycle items and send them to TerraCycle. Some of these hard-to-recycle items include:

• Shampoo bottles and caps
• Hair gel tubes and caps
• Lip balm tubes
• Face soap dispensers and tubes
• Lotion bottles, tubes, dispensers, and jars
• Mascara wands and tubes
• Food storage and takeout containers
• Plastic shopping bags
• Straws
• Contact lens packaging
• Food containers for infants
• Padded envelopes
• Tissue paper
• Energy bar wrappers
• Frozen food bags

These are just some of the items the store accepts!  For more information, please contact or visit We Fill Good HERE.

The Replenish Refillery in Dover accepts:

• Coffee bags
• Oral care
• Snack and candy wrappers (think foil lined items)
• Razors
• Plastic caps
• Can pull tabs
• All textiles

There is no charge for you to drop off the above items. The Replenish Refillery just asks that if you use the service, you are also a customer. To contact Replenish Refillery, please click HERE.

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee 

Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at: DurhamRecycles603@gmail.com

Check us out on Instagram: sustainable.durham.nh

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Check here: www.Recyclesmartma.org

Want to learn more about the Swap Shop? Click HERE.

THE SWITCH IS ON - Share Your Feelings About EVs with the Durham Energy Committee

Did you know that Durham neighbors are switching to EVs at twice the rate of other NH towns? It might be because of the significant tax credits for consumer and commercial vehicles, but the Durham Energy Committee needs to hear from you! Share your questions, concerns, and anecdotes about EVs with the Durham Energy Committee to help plan for future EV infrastructure and establish Durham's Climate Action goals by taking this 3-minute survey by clicking HERE.

Have any energy questions? Contact the Durham Energy Committee at dec@ci.durham.nh.us.

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS CONTINUES TO SEEK PART-TIME EQUIPMENT MECHANIC

The Department is seeking a highly qualified team member to join an exceptional team of Public Works professionals to serve in the role of Regular Part-Time Equipment Mechanic.

The successful candidate will assist the Fleet Services Supervisor in the maintenance, repair, and installation of a variety of mechanical and electrical equipment within the Public Works Fleet. Responsibilities include diagnosing and troubleshooting equipment malfunctions, performing regular preventative maintenance on equipment, ensuring equipment is operating safely and efficiently, and keeping accurate and detailed maintenance records. In this versatile and exciting role, you will report to the Fleet Services Supervisor and Operations Manager.

The salary for this position is $23.00 - $25.00/hr, depending upon qualifications. Flexible scheduling is available for this 24 hour per week position, with normal work hours from 7:00am – 3:30pm Monday – Friday.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of (1) year of experience or formal training in the maintenance of fleet vehicles and heavy equipment. Possession of a Class B Commercial Driver’s License and State Inspection Certification desired.

Applications are available at the Department of Public Works Main office or online at www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs.

Please send resume and cover letter to Durham Public Works, Attn: Shannon Shaw, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to sshaw@ci.durham.nh.us.

The Durham Fire Department is pleased to announce the promotion of Peter Leavitt to the position of Fire Captain at the Durham Fire Department. 

Pete began his employment with the Town of Durham on August 18, 2008. In addition to serving as a Firefighter/AEMT, Pete has filled leadership roles within the department including serving on the Executive Board of the Durham Professional Firefighters Association.

During his tenure at the department, Pete has actively sought training opportunities to improve his leadership skills including attending the US Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy where he received his certification as a Managing Officer. Pete’s strong dedication and commitment to service, combined with his knowledge, skills, and abilities, are a tremendous asset to the fire department and to the Durham/UNH community. 

The department held a promotional ceremony at the fire station attended by Pete’s family, fire department staff, Administrator Selig, and Durham Town Council members. Town Clerk Rachel Deane administered the oath of office and Pete's wife, Courtney, and Mom, Karen, adorned him with his new rank insignia.

Congratulations, Pete! 

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 and guardians 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/Guardian to teach your kids about Fire Safety. The more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #33

While we are outdoors, we need to be careful of some of the plants around us. For some helpful tips on plant safety, click HERE.

Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers (ORPP) is a 501(c)3 non-profit preschooler activity group open to all families in the Oyster River school district (the towns of Durham, Madbury, and Lee) with at least one child not yet in kindergarten.  

Throughout the school year, ORPP members organize community tours, playground meetups, farm visits and nature hikes for children and their caregivers on weekdays, parents gathering in the evenings/weekends, and whole family get-togethers on the weekends. Some examples of past activities include apple picking at Butternut Farm, touring the Durham fire station, a flower planting workshop at Wentworth Greenhouse, exploring the insect collection at UNH, holiday sleigh rides at Coppal House, and countless playground meetups and local hikes in the area. Members volunteer their time and knowledge to introduce children and families to the wonders of the Oyster River area and beyond. 

Each year the group also makes a rotating donation to one of the three towns - past donations include an adaptive swing for Woodridge playground in Durham, a feature in the Madbury Library nature playground, and a rink liner for the Lee ice skating rink. 

For a nominal annual membership fee, families may join online by clicking HERE.

UNH has been informed that ZipCar is ending its relationship with UNH-Durham.  Ending a 15-year presence, August 25th, 2024, will be the last day of ZipCar availability in Durham. Current Durham based members will be notified by ZipCar. Memberships remain valid at other national ZipCar pods.

It appears that ZipCar has made a business decision to de-emphasize smaller markets.  UNH and Durham were apparently an outlier in their network, and that causes challenges for operational and vehicle service costs for the company.

They have struggled to maintain a single car in town/on-campus since COVID whereas in prior years they had up to 4 cars during peak academic months. Contract renewal terms with the company switched to a per car financial commitment that neither UNH nor Durham is able to make at this time.

UNH and the Town will discuss opportunities for other car-share options for town and campus as we look to the future.

In 1901, several peculiar specimens of crabgrass were discovered on the rocky slopes of Rock Rimmon in Manchester, New Hampshire. Initially thought to belong to the species Digitaria filiformis, the slender, wiry plants with small, delicate spikelets were only known from this single location. But by 1931, they were last collected from the area, and the grass has not been observed since. Recently, UNH’s Albion R. Hodgdon Herbarium, which holds three of the last known remaining dried specimens of the grass, played a key role in identifying these plants as their own unique species, Digitaria laeviglumis, commonly known as smooth crabgrass.

“Using our three herbarium specimens, I worked with colleagues to genetically identify that this was, in fact, its own species, and that it has been extinct from New Hampshire probably soon after last documented in 1931,” said Erin Sigel ’03, Collections Manager for the Hodgdon Herbarium. “And I think over time, we’ll see more and more stories like this, about how our natural history collections contain ‘hidden species’ that we may have not even known existed and have now disappeared from our world.”

The discovery of Digitaria laeviglumis involved collaboration among researchers at UNH, West Virginia University, Oregon, and in Mexico, as well as scientists from the NH Natural Heritage Bureau. This international team compared DNA sequences from specimens at UNH’s herbarium to those of related species, helping to confirm its globally extinct status. This marked the first documented plant extinction in New Hampshire (and the 65th documented plant extinction in the U.S.).

Bill Nichols, NH State Botanist and Senior Ecologist with the NH Natural Heritage Bureau and lead author of the study, noted that several factors contributed to the extinction of Digitaria laeviglumis, including increased recreation at Rock Rimmon over the last two centuries and over collection by earlier botanists – 31 collections were made over a four-day span when last documented in 1931. Nichols and herbaria staff like Sigel emphasize that rare plant specimens should only be collected if there is a scientific need and if collecting them will not negatively impact plant populations.

“Ethical plant collection will help reduce the likelihood that rare plant species go extinct in the future,” said Nichols. “Keeping this in mind, the importance of making new specimen collections for our public herbaria has never been greater given rapid environmental changes and loss of biodiversity.”