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Rainbow over Oyster River at Old Landing. Courtesy Jim Munsey
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The dog days of summer have arrived within the Durham region and to that end, nothing's sweeter than a still dewy ear of corn from ... the Tecce farm.
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Tecce's Farm Stand is open with fresh corn! Courtesy Todd Selig
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HOME GROWN TECCE FARM CORN IS READY TO EAT!
Located at 240 Mast Road, the Tecce family has been in farming in Durham since 1903. They started as a dairy farm that evolved into a potato farm. From potatoes they evolved into the fruit and vegetable farm that serves members of the community today. The late Peter Smith used to tell me each summer how much he enjoyed Tecce corn.
Summer crops include ...
- Sweet corn
- Tomatoes (beefsteak, cherry, plum, and heirloom)
- Zucchini and summer squash
- Cucumbers
- Pickling cucumbers
- Green and yellow beans
- Green peppers
- Eggplant
- Beets
- Red and white potatoes (red norland and kennebec)
- Heirloom Italian hot peppers
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The band Fling! provided music on Thursday evening during Music on Main.
Courtesy Durham Parks and Recreation.
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FEMA REJECTS CHANGES/INCREASED COST TO LONGMARSH ROAD CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT DUE TO MACALLEN DAM IMPACTS – Durham plans to appeal determination
About 10 years ago, following extensive flooding that stranded sections of town located off Bennet Road from the rest of the community, Durham submitted an application under the FEMA Hazrd Mitigation Grant Program in conjunction with (and with support from) the NH Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). The proposed scope of work was the replacement of two undersized culverts with a single span culvert underneath Longmarsh Road with a total estimated project cost of $541,710. Concluding that the project met the cost-effectiveness and other eligibility requirements, FEMA approved and awarded the project on 4/14/16. FEMA later awarded additional funding for the project oon 6/30/16, in response to a request from the Town for additional costs, bringing the total approved project cost to $816,610.
Durham and HSEM later informed FEMA that we needed to modify the scope of work as a result of effects the project would have on the water surface elevation at Macallen Dam in Newmarket, as determined by the NH Dam Bureau, during a 100-year storm event. In its scope of work revision request, Durham modified the design of the replacement culvert and requested a new project total cost of $1,208,000. Durham in its benefit cost analysis for the modified scope, asserted that the project was cost effective when incorporating environmental benefits.
FEMA has just notified Durham and HSEM that it disagrees. FEMA does not believe that Durham and HSEM have demonstrated that the revised design of the culvert project would be cost effective. This is because FEMA does not apparently allow the inclusion of environmental benefits in the cost analysis calculation for flood reduction projects. FEMA ranks the project with a benefit cost ratio score of 0.76. A benefit cost ratio of 1 or above is needed.
Durham and HSEM plan to appeal the determination and have 60 days to do so.
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UNH TO GRACIOUSLY HOST PORTIONS OF DURHAM FARM DAY IN CONJUNCTION WITH DURHAM AG COMMISSION - AUGUST 18TH - RAIN OR SHINE!
The public and growers are invited to visit two research farms at UNH on the 6th annual Durham Farm Day Saturday, Aug. 18. The Woodman Horticultural Research Farm and the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, both facilities of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, will be open for free public tours.
Tours of the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm will take place at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.; preregistration is required. To preregister, mailto:theresawalker@comcast.net or call 603-659-7226. Theresa is the Chair of the Durham Agricultural Commission. Self-guided tours of the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors can observe the milking process at 3:30 p.m.
Located at 70 Spinney Lane, the primary activities of the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm, approximately 155 acres, are research, teaching, and outreach on the production of horticultural and ornamental crops. The farm specializes in conducting research on new cultivation methods and varieties of fruits and vegetables.
Visitors to the farm will learn more about current research and speak with experiment station scientists. Tours will feature the kiwiberry vineyard; the grape cultivar and training trial; day neutral strawberries producing all summer long as part of the tunnelberries project; wildflowers meadows to promote pollinator health; the UNH Bee Hotel for diverse native bees; soil nutrient management for optimal growth of tomatoes in caterpillar tunnels; breeding strawberries for organic growers; domestication of lambsquarters as a New England version of quinoa; and a new eggplant cultivar trial in high tunnels. Children are invited to participate in a scavenger hunt for facts about pollinators.
The Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center is representative of a typical New England Dairy operation, developing new knowledge and management expertise for the region’s dairy farmers. It houses about 90 milking-age cows and approximately 70 growing, replacement animals.
See how good food is grown right in our own backyards. Pre-registration is required for the 10am and 11am tours of the UNH Woodman Horticultural Research Farm and for the 1pm Food Friendly Yard Tour of the Chesley Road neighborhood.
A full schedule of Farm Day events will available very soon, but please plan on joining us for the community bring-your-own-picnic at 5:30pm at Town Landing!
Full list of events HERE.
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Bank Manager Ashley Gibbons and staff from Kennebunk Bank at music on Main . Courtesy Todd Selig
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EASYPARK OFFERS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO "FEEDING THE METER" IN DURHAM - (CAN ALSO BE USED IN PORTSMOUTH & DOVER)!
Last year Durham entered into an agreement with EasyPark which is a comprehensive easy-to-use electronic parking payment system that provides a solution for drivers - paying for the exact period of time parked and receiving parking reports on your usage and funds expended. This system will allow EasyPark holders to pay via the device for parking not only in Durham but in Dover, Portsmouth and Manchester while not needing to retrieve a receipt from the kiosk.
The core of the EasyPark system lies in a “durable, adaptable, contactless, multi-application in-vehicle device”. Once a person purchases the EasyPark device either online or at the Dover Parking Services located at 46 Locust Street, funds can be loaded onto the device by using https://www.easyparkusa.com/home which eliminates the necessity to get out of your vehicle to pay at the kiosk, get the receipt and return to your vehicle to place the receipt on the dashboard. Once you arrive at a parking spot you turn on the EasyPark device, which will immediately display the balance on the device. Then choose your parking zone that will be displayed on the side of the kiosk to find out the time limit and the hourly parking rate. You then place your EasyPark device on the window or dashboard so parking inspectors can easily locate it.
As stated, residents interested in this device can purchase the device in the City of Dover. View more information HERE regarding data about the device and how it works.
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PAVING WORK UNDERWAY THIS WEEK IN DURHAM
Public Works planned to put the top coat of asphalt on July 31st on the following Durham roadways: Palmer, Cowell, Sauer, Glassford, and York
In addition, if all things run smoothly, Cedar Point Road will be paved over the course of the afternoon today.
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DPW BUSY WITH ROADWAY STRIPING/MARKING
Above, Public Works employee Jim Couch has been busy this summer reapplying roadway paint, markings, and the like all over town. Whether it is a stop sign marking on the roadway indicating where to stop when you reach the intersection or painting the green bicycle boxes and bike lane markings downtown, this all falls to Mr. Couch.
If you see him working out and about town, please be sure to drive slowly and be cautious as you pass.
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DURHAM TO POTENTIALLY CONSIDER CHANGES TO RECYCLING PROGRAM INCLUDING PAY AS YOU THROW
Over the course of the summer, we’ve worked to report the various challenges that municipalities, including Durham, are facing as a result of global challenges within the recycling market. In short, the cost of recycling has increased dramatically and China has stopped accepting products. Recycling is no longer a money maker for Durham, and shortly we anticipate it may cost more to market recyclables (currently $80/ton) than it costs to send items to the landfill (currently around $100/ton)! We anticipate the gap will close within the next few months. Public Works Assistant Director for Operations Doug Bullen, DPW Admin. Asst. Janice Richard, DPW Director Mike Lynch, Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee Chair Nell Neal, Councilors Carden Welsh and Al Howland, and Mr. Selig met this week to discuss a path forward in Durham. Several courses of action were discussed:
- Fee increases for the disposal of bulky waste, construction debris, and electronics/freon disposal at the Transfer Station in order to cover costs. Rates have not been adjusted in about a decade and we are losing money.
- Potentially moving away from single stream back to segregated recycling (cardboard/paper v. glass/plastics) collection.
- Potentially no longer accepting paper, glass, and some plastics, depending upon market trends in order to have more desirable recycling products to bring to market.
- Implementing Pay as You Throw (PAYT) or Pay per Bag for non-recycling items in 2020.
We plan to provide the Town Council with a more detailed overview in the coming weeks to better educate the community concerning these issues.
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FOOD FRIENDLY YARD TOUR ON FARM DAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 18Th
Tour begins at 1:00 and visits 3 yards in the Faculty Neighborhood. Learn how your neighbors are using their yards to grow food for themselves, pollinators, and wildlife. Park and meet on Mill Pond Road from there participants will walk to Chesley Drive to start the tour. Tour lasts approximately 1 hour. Registration is required and needs to be received by Friday, August 17th. Contact: Theresa Walker at 603-534-3913; leave your phone number or mailto:theresawalker@comcast.net.
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One of many attendees at the Music on Main event held Thursday evening this week. Courtesy Todd Selig
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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.
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Above Left: DPW Director and Council Chair Kitty Marple manned a table with information and distributed tree saplings to those attending Music on Main.
Right: A representative from New Hampshire's Division of Forests and Land presented the Town with a special plaque celebrating Durham's 40th year as being named "Tree City USA". An elm tree was also unveiled to commemorate the celebration and will be been planted in the Memorial Park downtown. Courtesy Todd Selig
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DURHAM CELEBRATES 40 YEARS AS "TREE CITY USA" COMMUNITY - The Longest Running Such Community in New Hampshire
Tree City USA Award-winning communities are recognized in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Cities and towns across the United States continue to recognize the economic, social, ecological, and environmental benefits of effectively planting and managing their urban and community trees and forests. From the smallest Tree City USA Award-winning community, Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station, Hawaii (population, 58), to the largest, New York City, New York (population, 8 million), more than 135 million people call a TREE CITY USA Award-winning community home. Durham is the longest running such community in NH. Hanover is #2 with 39 years.
The Tree City USA program was founded by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1976. It was intended to provide a framework for communities to manage their public trees. To achieve Tree City status, a town must meet four core standards of urban forestry management. This includes maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day. Durham's 40 year streak is one of the longest in the state.
For the 40th Celebration, Durham Public Works will be planting an Elm tree donated by Eversource in Memorial Park. An Elm is significant because Main Street used to be lined with them, but Dutch Elm Disease wiped them out.
Some TREE CITY Facts:
- Thirty-five Percent of New Hampshire’s Residents Live in TREE CITY USA Communities.
- More than 135 million Americans live in TREE CITY USA towns and cities.
- 3,402 TREE CITY USA Award-Winning Communities Nationwide.
- There are 17 New Hampshire TREE CITY USA Award-Winning Communities.
- 134 First Time TREE CITY USA Communities Nationwide.
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A BIKESHARE GRAVEYARD IN CHINA
At first glance the photo above vaguely resembles a painting. On closer inspection it might be a giant sculpture or some other art project. But in reality it is a mangled pile of bicycles covering an area roughly the size of a football field, and so high that cranes are needed to reach the top -- cast-offs from the boom and bust of China’s bike sharing industry.
Just two days after China’s number three bike sharing company went bankrupt, a photographer in the south-eastern city of Xiamen captured a bicycle graveyard where thousands have been laid to rest. The pile clearly contains thousands of bikes from each of the top three companies, Mobike, Ofo and the now-defunct Bluegogo.
Once hailed as “Uber for bikes”, China’s cycle hire startups allowed users to unlock GPS-enabled bikes with their smartphone, and drop them off anywhere without the need to park it at a dock.
View the article about this topic HERE.
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DCAT personal computer damaged from fire. Courtesy DCAT
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SMALL FIRE THIS WEEK IN THE DCAT OFFICE AT TOWN HALL
On Wednesday this week, DCAT Coordinator Craig Stevens was at his desk when he saw flames coming from his computer. He immediately unplugged the device, and then discharged one of the chemical extinguishers to put the fire out. IT Director Luke Vincent called 911. The fire alarm was sounded to evacuate the building. The Fire Department responded quickly, ventilated the room, and eventually released the staff to reenter the building.
The DCAT Office smelled smokey and there was dry extinguisher powder all over the desk and also on the (new) DCAT television equipment. Servpro Restoration Services came in the next morning to clean up the mess. A faulty sata power adapter was believed to be the likely cause.
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Durham FF Ken Lundberg with Pars & Recreation director, part-time assistant director, and summer counselors during Music on Main. Courtesy Todd Selig
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DURHAM'S ANNUAL MUSIC ON MAIN EVENT A LOT OF FUN
Last evening, friends, family, visitors, and neighbors headed to Main Street in downtown Durham to celebrate summer last night and didn’t let the light rain spoil their experience. A few brave souls also left room for ice cream!
After what seemed like an eternal winter and a cool spring, we've finally reached the heart of summer. The Red Sox are in first place and the back to school ads are weeks away. So it was the perfect time to embrace the Durham summer tradition of the community block party.
This year Durham Parks & Recreation, partnering with Durham Public Works and Celebrate Durham, again organized Music on Main. It took place Thursday, August 2nd from 6:00-8:00PM on Main Street.
This year's highlight was the commemoration of Durham's 40th anniversary as a Tree City.
The Tree City USA program was founded by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1976. It was intended to provide a framework for communities to manage their public trees. To achieve Tree City status, a town must meet four core standards of urban forestry management. This includes maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day. Durham's 40 year streak is THE longest in the state! Hanover is the 2nd longest Tree City USA community with 39 years. (Sorry Hanover!)
For the 40th Celebration, Durham Public Works, in conjunction with the NH Division of Forests and Lands, planted an Elm tree donated by Eversource in Memorial Park. An Elm is significant because Main Street used to be lined with them, but Dutch Elm Disease wiped them out. Staff from the NH Division of Forests and Lands also handed out seedlings to residents in attendance.
One of the highlights of last evening’s Music on Main was the ice cream eating contest. The Candy Bar developed the Kraken, consisting of a green plastic bucket filled with 8 scoops ice cream and 8 toppings! Teams signed up and competed.
As if the trees and ice cream were not enough, Durham Parks & Recreation Director Rachel Gasowski also had a band and the time-tested bouncy house on hand. Various local businesses and nonprofits displayed their offerings on tables, and attendees had opportunities to make a craft, see some and games, and learn about how to help the community.
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Former Durham Courthouse. Watercolor by Charles J. Manuel
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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.
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LAMPREY RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUMMER NEWSLETTER
The Lamprey River Advisory Committee has published its 2018 summer newsletter which is available for viewing HERE.
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Youngsters making bubbles at the Music on Main event. Courtesy Todd Selig
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TOWN OF DURHAM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ACCOUNTS
Did you know that the Town has a Facebook & Twitter account and frequently posts Durham & UNH news, happenings, and articles of interest in our area and the seacoast?
Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
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Durham DPW's Sam Hewitt and Ray LaRoche, Jr. kept everything running smoothly during the Music on Main event. Courtesy Sally Tobias
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Durham Parks and Recreation, its Director and Committee, strive to offer a wide range of quality programs, parks, and facilities that encourage all community members to participate in healthy, fun, and enriching activities. Together, they celebrate the essential role public recreation plays in fostering a cohesive and vibrant community.
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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.
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Vote for the Great American Read at the Durham Public Library! With NHPBS, Friday, August 10th, 11:00-1:00 pm
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HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL - A Brief History of Durham, NH 1600 - 1976 (A little volume that was the Heritage Project of the Durham Historic Association Bicentennial celebration)
Preface - "Since before God made the first little green apples, oysters have probably been growin in the Oyster River; and some of the largest and juiciest to be found anywhere in the world are still growing here today. The following vignettes from rollicking history of Durham town on the Oyster River are therefore presented between the shells of an oyster."
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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.
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Face painting was one of a number of activities offered during Music on Main.
Courtesy Todd Selig
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