|
|
Visit the Community Garden at Wagon Hill Farm on Farm Day to learn more about local food production, honeybees, and composting. Courtesy Theresa Walker
|
__________________________________
Be sure to attend the annual Farm Day event tomorrow, Saturday, August 17th beginning at 10AM. So much to see and do and EAT, including steamed local sweet corn at noon at LaRoche Farm on Bennett Road! Join the Agricultural Commission for this day long celebration of our farms and gardens across town and campus. Registration for the 10am and 11am tours of UNH Woodman Farm ends this afternoon so please mailto:theresawalker@comcast.net if you’d like to join a tour. View a full schedule of events HERE.
-------------------------------------
For those who may have known him, former Durham resident and Town Councilor W. Arthur Grant, passed away on August 2, 2019. Art was also a longtime employee at the University of New Hampshire. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 14th at Havenwood in Concord, NH. A private burial service will be held in the New Hampshire State Veterans' Cemetery in Boscawen.
Art's full obituary can be viewed HERE.
|
DURHAM DAY 2019 - Cancelled due to WHF shoreline stabilization efforts/construction activities.
Due to the current efforts underway to restore and stabilize the shoreline at Wagon Hill Farm, this year's Durham Day event has been cancelled. Durham Parks and Recreation plans to have a big Trick-or-Treat event in October that should be of great interest. More details will follow in upcoming "Friday Updates".
|
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE BACKPACK DRIVE
The New Hampshire Department of Education Backpack Drive officially ends today. A total of 39 backpacks were dropped off at the Town Hall!! Town Council Chair Kitty Marple and her husband, Peter, graciously offered to deliver the backpacks to the Department of Education in Concord this morning.
Thank you to all the generous people who participated in Durham. The backpacks will be provided to school nurses for distribution around the state.
|
“THEY'RE BAAAACK" - UNH Students arrive next Friday August 23th
As the University of New Hampshire and Durham readies ourselves for the beginning of a new academic year, we thought we would share the upcoming scenario for the “move-in” days occurring this week. Working with UNH, we have implemented a number of successful strategies to address the arrival of the approximately 14,000 who will begin classes for the Fall schedule on Monday August 26th!
Off-campus apartments have already begun to experience significant activity as students move in prior to school opening. The move-in period at Orion, Madbury Commons, Henderson’s and other downtown properties will not conflict with Freshmen Move-in day which is this Friday August 23rd as they begin their move-in commencing this week. While finished construction in 2015 of three core downtown apartment complexes is becoming a distant memory, residents may have noted that there has been daily moving activity. Many of these apartment residents actually never moved out of their apartments but physically left for summer jobs, often returning on weekends throughout the summer. Numerous athletic team members, resident assistants (RAs) and others, who have pre-UNH-opening activities that they must attend, have been circulating throughout the community during these last two-weeks.
As stated, on Friday August 23rd, approximately 3,200+/- freshmen, assisted by their parents and siblings will move into dormitories. As you know, move-in days that coincide with the work week are somewhat of a “perfect storm” scenario for the police as the downtown will be busy with open businesses, commercial deliveries and routine traffic. We expect the challenging peak hours will occur between 6AM and 3PM with Durham’s roadway infrastructure slowing as parents, unfamiliar with the roadways, attempt to drop off their children at the appropriate dormitory. Additionally, there will be traffic pattern changes on Garrison Avenue and Madbury Road on Friday only as one-way traffic will be implemented to facilitate move-in at Stoke Hall. As always the Durham and University Police Department will have officers stationed throughout the area facilitating the flow of traffic and assisting those who may have questions. We thank everyone for their patience as we embark on the 2019/2020 UNH school year.
Foot traffic in the downtown will once again be extraordinary as families seek lunch and to acquire those items they forgot to pack! While the upper-class students are instructed to arrive on Saturday and Sunday, with classes beginning on Monday August 26th, it is anticipated that significant numbers will be moving-in on Saturday, as well as Sunday, further exacerbating the strains upon Durham’s infrastructure and police staff. Residents should know that Durham and UNH police officers will be assigned to key locations to assist in providing directions to dorms as well as business locations that are unfamiliar to the new Wildcats.
|
RULES OF THE ROAD -- Bicyclists & Motorists
Safety is on all our minds as we use the road. We may think it's the other person who doesn't know what he or she is doing as they drive or cycle on our shared roadways, but do we, ourselves, really know what's what?
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation has published a two-sided brochure that summarizes the rights and responsibilities of motorists and cyclists, as delineated and codified in the State statutes, the RSAs. This pamphlet has two sections, Bicycle Safety: What Every Cyclist Must Know and Sharing the Road: What Every Motorist Must Know. The brochure can be downloaded from the NHDOT website on Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic or on the Town of Durham's website.
Please do take the time to read the brochure before you next head out. Also check out the NHDOT website to learn more about shared lane road markings ("sharrows"), which can be seen on Durham's Main Street and elsewhere in town.
A key point to remember: It’s the Law -- Bicycles Are Vehicles. New Hampshire law says bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers of motor vehicles.
|
Left: Share the Road sign located on Mill Road
Right: Bike lane and crosswalk markings in downtown. Photos courtesy Todd Selig
|
WHAT ARE THOSE MARKINGS ON THE STREET ("SHARROWS")? Durham's Main Street joins Daniel Street, Portsmouth — and other communities across the country — in encouraging a sharing of the road by motorists and bicyclists. The "sharrow" marking (a combination of "share" and "arrow") indicates lanes used by both cars and bicycles. Drivers and cyclists alike have the right to use the FULL sharrow lane.
Sharrow markings are often used when there is not enough space to allow for separate bike and motor vehicle travel lanes. They alert both drivers and cyclists to take extra care.
In Durham, you can see sharrows on Garrison Avenue between Madbury Road and Main Street — and more recently on Main Street in a couple of "pinch" areas or areas in which a bicyclist may make a left-hand turn from the right-hand lane on Main Street onto Madbury Road (in front of Libby's).
NH law (RSA Section 265:143) states that bicyclists and motorists have the same rights and duties under the rules of the road (with a few exceptions), as follows:
TITLE XXI - MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 265
RULES OF THE ROAD
Special Rules for Bicycles and Mopeds
265:143 Application of Motor Vehicle Laws to Bicycles. –
I. Every person propelling a vehicle by human power or riding a bicycle shall have all of the rights and be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under the rules of the road, except as provided in paragraph II and as to special regulations in this subdivision and except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application.
II. (a) Any peace officer, wearing a distinctive uniform, operating a bicycle during the course of his or her duties is exempt from the provisions of this subdivision, except as those provisions relate to driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, if the bicycle is being operated under any of the following circumstances:
(1) In response to an emergency call.
(2) While engaged in a rescue operation.
(3) In the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.
(b) This paragraph shall not relieve a peace officer from the duty to operate a bicycle with due regard for the safety of all persons using the public way.
Source. 1939, 164:1. RL 106:17. 1945, 188:1, part 20:17. RSA 250:17. 1973, 440:1. 1981, 146:1; 422:9. 2000, 63:1, eff. June 16, 2000.
The Federal Highway Administration for the first time included information about this signage in its 2009 edition of the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" (MUTCD), the national standard for traffic signs and road markings.
According to the MUTCD, the sharrow assists cyclists with lateral positioning in a shared lane with on-street parallel parking in order to reduce the chance of a bicyclist's hitting the open door of a parked vehicle. It also assists bicyclists with lateral positioning in lanes that are too narrow for a motor vehicle and a bicycle to travel side by side within the same traffic lane. The sharrow may be used in addition to or in place of the "Bikes May Use Full Lane" sign.
|
UNH CLUB TENNIS TEAM USING DURHAM'S WOODRIDGE PARK THIS SUMMER FOR TENNIS PRACTICES
While the University of New Hampshire tennis courts are under construction this summer, the UNH Club Tennis Team will be conducting its practices at Durham's Woodridge Park two to three times per week between the hours of 4 and 6PM.
There will be approximately 30 participants with an anticipated 8-10 vehicles at the park.
Go Wildcats!
NOTE: The Club Tennis team has been asked to leave 2 courts open for the public during the practices.
|
Young entrepreneur Gibson Moore serves up refreshing glasses of freshly squeezed lemonade to Faculty neighborhood resident Nancy Lambert. The perfect drink for a hot August day. Courtesy John Pacheco
|
BUNKER CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
As many in Durham know, the Route 4 bridge crossing Bunker Creek has failed and is scheduled to be replaced commencing this year through project completion in September of 2020. The Town of Durham is working closely with representatives from SPS Engineering of New England, the firm retained by the State of New Hampshire to design and build the replacement bridge. They have advised us that they will commence preliminary work on Monday, August 19th removing guardrail and replacing with concrete barriers on the north side of the causeway, accomplishing geotechnical tests and placing stone fill for placement of the utility poles. The work hours are scheduled to be 7 AM to 3 PM and will require one lane alternating traffic. This work will cause one-lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic along this busy corridor. Residents may desire to seek alternative routes.
|
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE GOT A GARDEN!
The Agricultural Commission is compiling an informal inventory of current farming and gardening activity in town to further a Durham Master Plan goal to increase local food production. If you’d like to be included in the inventory please email Theresa Walker of the Agricultural Commission at mailto:theresawalker@comcast.net. Better yet, stop by the sheep shearing demonstration during Farm Day at LaRoche Farm and let Theresa know in person!
|
NH FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THREE PROPOSED MARINE AQUACULTURE LICENSE APPLICATIONS
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public hearing regarding three proposed marine aquaculture license applications on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, and at 10:00 AM at The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Region 3 Office, 225 Main St., Durham, N.H. The public is welcome to attend and to offer comments on the proposed aquaculture plans.
- At 09:00 AM, Christopher Gallagher of Little Bay Beauties will be heard on his application to culture oysters, northern quahogs, soft shelled clams, and razor clams in a bottom culture operation on a 2-acre site in the shallows along the Durham shoreline of the Oyster River.
- At 09:30 AM, Joseph Rankin of Hidden Coast Shellfish will be heard on his application to culture oysters in a bottom/suspended culture operation on a 2-acre site in the shallows along the Durham shoreline of the Oyster River.
- At 10:00 AM, Brian Gennaco of Virgin Oyster Company will be heard on his application to culture oysters, northern quahogs, soft shelled clams, and razor clams in a bottom/suspended culture operation on a 2.1-acre site in the shallows along the Durham shoreline of the Oyster River.
Detailed plans for these projects are available for public review HERE listed under "Coastal Focus" or at the Department's Region 3 office in Durham.
Written comments on the proposed licenses may be submitted up until September 3, 2019, which is the end date for public comment. Written comments may be mailed to the Executive Director, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Dr., Concord, NH, 03301, faxed to (603) 271-5829, or mailto:robert.atwood@wildlife.nh.gov.
|
DURHAM FARMERS' MARKET - Each Monday afternoon in the Sammy's downtown lot off Pettee Brook Lane
Be sure to stop by the Durham Farmers' Market being held on Monday afternoons at the Sammy's/Store 24 Parking Lot. A variety of locally produced farm products, prepared foods, and fine crafts will be available Mondays 2:15 - 6:00 PM.
There will be no Farmers' Market on Labor Day, Monday, September 2nd.
|
COOKIE DROP OFF AT DURHAM PD
Durham resident Ellen Andrick and her sons, Mateo and Nico, stopped by the station on Monday, August 12th, to drop off some cookies for the officers after seeing that it was one of the items on the Celebrate Durham Summer Bucket List. Ms. Andrick and her family are new to Durham and said she found this summer adventure list a great way to get to know their new town!
The Durham PD seized the opportunity to start some early recruitment and gave her sons a tour of the police station and one of the police cruisers.
|
SCHOOL BOARD NEWS FOR AUGUST 7, 2019
Construction on safety enhancements at the entrances of Moharimet and ORHS will be nearly complete by the start of school. These projects were both supported by voters and State grant funding.
The Athletic Director has proposed forming cooperative girls and boys lacrosse teams with Newmarket High School in order to ensure that the teams are large enough to provide opportunities for players to develop and be competitive. This proposal will be discussed at a future school board meeting.
The Board adopted goals for the 2019-2020 school year focused on improving communication, engaging the community about the proposed new middle school, and developing next steps on assessment of competency-based-education (CBE).
The proposed middle school (including architect Ron Lamar) and next steps on CBE are expected to be reviewed at the August 21 school board meeting.
The ORCSD Child Nutrition program continues to grow. Child Nutrition Director Doris Demers shared that thanks to recently enacted law SB 82, the State is providing additional funding so that all students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch will also be able to receive free school breakfast each school day starting this fall. The Board will also consider an update to the ORCSD Wellness policy that adds sourcing local fresh foods as a component.
August 28 is the first day of school for Oyster River students for 2019-2020.
|
REMINDER! HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY - Morning of Saturday, October 26, 2019
The 2019 Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held at the Department of Public Works facility located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive. As in the past, all hazardous waste will be collected by appointment only, between 8 - 11:30 AM. To register, you must call DPW at 603-868-5571 or mailto:publicworks@ci.durham.nh.us. REMEMBER - THE MAXIMUM COLLECTED PER HOUSEHOLD IS FIVE GALLONS. NO EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS, RADIOACTIVE WASTE, ASBESTOS, SILVEX OR INFECTIOUS/BIOLOGICAL WASTE WILL BE ACCEPTED.
NOT ACCEPTED AT HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY - LATEX AND OLD-BASED PAINTS, MOTOR OIL, AND ANTI-FREEZE. These items can be brought up to the Transfer Station with a permit throughout the year. Latex paints must be dried out first, motor oil, anti-freeze and oil-based paints can go up as is. Typically, hazardous waste is categorized as toxic, ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or otherwise hazardous. Please check the manufacturer's label.
|
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE FOR MONTHS OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER
The Town Council will be meeting only once in both August and September.
The August Town Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 19.
The September Town Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 9.
|
CHANGE TO STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE BUILDING CODE
The State of New Hampshire has approved the change in the State Building Code from 2009 to 2015 beginning September 15, 2019. All construction must conform to the 2015 building codes after that date. The Codes affected are the International Residential Code, the International Building Code, the International Existing Building Code, the International Mechanical Code, the International Plumbing Code, and the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
Copies of the 2015 codes can be reviewed in the Building Office at the Town Hall, 8 Newmarket Road. Copies for purchase can be found at http://www.iccsafe.org. Questions may be directed to Code Enforcement Officer, Audrey Cline, at 603-868-8064 or mailto:acline@ci.durham.nh.us.
|
Relaxing in a shade at the Wagon Hill Farm Orchard. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
ORCHARD DRIVE WOODS CONSERVATION EFFORT
As most people are already aware, there is an effort underway to purchase and conserve the Orchard Drive Woods Property through a private fund-raising venture.
Read more about this effort in an article published by Foster's Daily Democrat HERE.
Find out more about the Orchard Drive property and how you can be a part of building a better Durham on the Celebrate Durham website HERE.
|
DURHAM POLICE TO CONDUCT FIREARMS TRAINING DURING WEEK OF AUGUST 19th.
Durham residents in close proximity to the Durham Public Works facility on Stone Quarry Drive may hear periodic shooting the week of August 19th through 23rd as the Durham Police conduct their annual qualifications with their firearms. While there are significant portions of the annual training that involves practicums without the discharge of a weapon, there will be periods of active shooting. While Chief Kurz anticipates that some area residents will hear the actual discharge of the weapons, it is his hope that the leaves on the trees, the enhanced buffering of the area with the addition to existing berms, warmer weather and the day-time hours all may have a positive impact upon lessening the noise levels. Additionally, the significant buildings that comprise RiverWoods will also serve to dampen the discharge sounds as the range is directly behind the facility.
The Town of Durham and RiverWoods have an agreement that the Durham Police will not be utilizing the range after December 31, 2021. While Chief Kurz has been attempting to have Strafford County officials construct a county-wide firearms range, that effort has not fared very well with the County budget and has been pushed off.
Letters have been sent to abutters, or those who may be in earshot of the actual training, advising that the training is scheduled. If there are any concerns please feel free to contact the police department at 868-2324 or Chief Kurz at mailto:dkurz@ci.durham.nh.us.
|
DURHAM-BASED COMPANY, HYDROCOMP, LISTED IN MARINE NEWS MAGAZINE
HydroComp, Inc. located at 15 Newmarket Road, Suite 2 in Durham, was established in 1984 to provide powering analysis services to naval architects and shipbuilders. Best known for its award-winning NavCad® software, HydroComp is regarded as the premier source for performance prediction software, consulting, and knowledge.
HydroComp has been listed once again in the Marine News Magazine - MN 100 Market Leaders. This August issue looks takes an annual look at the very best of the North American maritime industry. 2019 celebrates HydroComp’s 35th year!
|
DURHAM SEEKS INTERESTED LANDOWNERS WITH SEPTIC SYSTEMS FOR WATER QUALITY INSTALLATION PROJECT
The Town of Durham, in partnership with the Strafford Regional Planning Commission, received a watershed assistance grant from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. The funding is to install two permeable reactive barriers (PRB) within the Oyster or Lamprey River watersheds to address nonpoint source pollution from residential septic systems. PRB’s are relatively new technologies, which are now being piloted in the Great Bay watershed, and seek to control nitrogen with a formulation of wood chips, additives, and sand or gravel to transform inorganic nitrogen to nitrogen gas.
The Town is currently evaluating potential locations and is looking for private landowners, with septic systems, who are interested in participating as a pilot site for the project. There is no cost to the homeowner and the project is entirely voluntary.
If you’d like to learn more about the project before volunteering, please reach out to Kyle Pimental at mailto:kpimental@strafford.org. He is the project manager for this effort and can help answer any questions you may have.
|
NOTICE OF VACANCIES ON TOWN BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
The Durham Town Council is seeking interested residents of the Town of Durham who have the ability, desire, and time needed to fill vacancies on several town boards, commissions, and committees.
Applications are available on the home page of the Town of Durham website at the top of the home page under “Helpful Resources”, then “Town Documents”, then “forms”, then “Application for Appointment”.
Completed applications may be mailed to the Administrator’s office, or submitted via email to Jennie Berry at mailto:jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
|
CHIEF KURZ RECEIVES A SCAM!
Earlier this week Chief Kurz received a call from the “National State and Local Police Association” soliciting a $20 donation via credit card to support training of police throughout the country. The caller was queried by Chief Kurz about where Durham PD could apply for these funds to train the department when abruptly Chief Kurz heard a “click”! Residents should know that if the Durham Police require funding, they will make the presentation to Town Council.
|
2019 DURHAM HISTORIC TREASURE HUNT
The 2019 Durham Historic Treasure Hunt is open to Durham residents ages 8-17, and will run through the end of August.
View more details HERE.
|
COME VISIT THE DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION MUSUEM - There are incredibly interesting historic artifacts to view from Durham's rich history.
The Durham Historic Association Museum doors are open to the public every Tuesday and Saturday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. through Labor Day weekend.
Explore Durham's 400-year history in eight chronological periods, from the Abenaki settlement on the Oyster River to the present, in air-conditioned comfort.
BE OUR GUEST!
|
LAMPREY RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUMMER 2019 NEWSLETTER
The Lamprey River Advisory Committee has published its 2019 summer newsletter which is available for viewing HERE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Three Chimneys Inn Lobstah Bake…time to get crackin’! Summer Lobster Bake on the Deck! Saturday, August 17, 2019, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Click the button below for more details.
|
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.
|
DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY UPCOMING EVENTS
|
Monday, August 19th & Tuesday August 20th, 6:00-8:00 pm
CPR/AED & First Aid with MacGregor EMS
Need CPR/AEDCertification? Offered monthly at DPL.
Register online HERE.
Fall Programming begins the week of September 3rd!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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."
________________________
1924 - The Pettee Block, built in 1897 by George Whitcher, burned, destroying general store, market, barber and tailor shops, pharmacy, men's dormitory. Mrs. Gorman warned all the residents. Dover and Newmarket Fire Departments helped our call firemen -- but in vain.
|
Have a very nice weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
