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 NEWS AND HAPPENINGS ...
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Downtown Main Street during the 2015 Annual Tree Lighting event. Courtesy Rachel Gasowski
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On Wednesday, Admin. Selig went to Young’s for lunch and as he was sitting down at the table, a long-time resident approached him and engaged in the following friendly conversation:
Resident: "Todd, you look like a million dollars, has the Town just given you a raise?"
Todd: "No? ..."
Resident: "Well, looking so good, you don’t need one!" :-)
TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION SATURDAY EVENING! The annual Tree Lighting Celebration will be held tomorrow evening, Saturday, December 3rd, from 6 - 8PM, Downtown - Main Street. Plan to attend this fun filled community event and celebration! Enjoy a bonfire with s’mores, live music, activity stations, cookie decorating, an ice sculpting demonstration, Ruby The Photo Bus, visit with Santa, and much more!!
Santa is expected to arrive around 7:00pm and the lighting of the tree between 7:15- 7:30pm. A great raffle will conclude the event (must be present to win)!
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ORHS STUDENT INCIDENT, POSSIBLE ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION - A notification from Superintendent James Morse
ORCSD Superintendent James Morse has released information regarding an incident involving a high school student.
Dr. Morse reported that the incident occurred this morning (12/2/16) at 6:18 AM when a high school student who was walking to school was asked by a driver of a car if the student needed a ride. The student refused and immediately returned home. The student informed the parents and they informed the high school administration and police. The high school student is safe because the student followed appropriate safety procedures.
Dr. Morse shared this information with parents as a reminder to all that it is critically important to remind children of safety procedures that can keep them safe. He said this would be done at all ORCSD schools and encouraged all parents and guardians to do so as well.
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A FEW ELECTION REFORMS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE
This week, the Foster’s Daily Democrat and Concord Monitor ran an Op Ed that Mr. Selig wrote regarding potential voting reforms that the state might consider as part of the coming legislative session. View the piece HERE.
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"FRIDAY UPDATES" SCHEDULE FOR END OF DECEMBER, 2016
The last "Friday Updates" publication in December will be sent on Thursday, December 22nd as the Town Offices will be closed on Friday, December 23rd.
There will be no "Friday Updates" on December 30th.
The first "Friday Updates" publication in January will be on January 6, 2017.
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LIBRARY DIRECTOR CANDIDATE COMMUNITY MEET & GREET: Meet Rose Bebris, a Final Candidate for the DPL Director Position—Monday, 12/12 @ 7:00pm
The Durham Public Library Board of Trustees cordially invite members of the community to meet a finalist for the DPL Director position.
Please join the DPL on Monday, December 12th from 7:00pm-8:00pm in the Oyster River Room at the Durham Pubic Library. Rose will discuss about her background and her vision for a 21st century library. There will be time for the community to ask questions and light refreshments will be served.
Brief candidate background:
Rose grew up in Pelham NH, graduated cum laude in English from UNH and received her Master’s in Information Resources and Library Science from the University of Arizona. Rose’s entire career has been spent in libraries—from her position as a page at the Nashua Public Library before and during her undergraduate years at UNH to her current position as the Director of the Florence Community Library in Florence, Arizona.
While Rose has served as the Director in Florence for almost twelve years, she also worked in children and youth services for more than a decade in both New Hampshire and Arizona prior to her current post. Rose is an active member of the Arizona Library Association and serves as Chair of the Pinal County Library District Federation.
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A photograph of the "Cruel Adversity" mural at the Durham Post Office. Courtesy Todd Selig
PAGES FROM THE PAST: A MURAL HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF DURHAM – Post Office mural dating to 1959 generates concern / discussion in town.
In 1959, when the new Federal Building at the junction of Main Street and Madbury Road was nearing completion, the Women’s Club of Durham undertook a community project to visually honor the history of Durham. What better place than the post office to ensure its display for the entire community and visitors? The building was erected on the site of Durham’s first post office, built in 1796.
The club secured the services of Bernard F. Chapman to make a mural for the walls, depicting the history of Durham. The club paid for the murals and the printing of brochures further explaining each scene in the mural. Members called the project, The Petticoat Project, and the women working on raising the funds, the “Muriels.”
One of the panels, entitled “Cruel Adversity,” depicts a Native American with a torch observing from afar a garrison-type home in what would ultimately become Durham. The description in the brochure from the Women’s Club reads: “The fourteen fortified houses known as garrisons, which were strategically placed throughout the “Plantation”, were symbolic of the dangerous and precarious existence of this early settlement. The colonists were in constant danger of surprise attacks from Indians. There were several raids on the “Plantation”, the most severe occurring in 1694, when five garrisons and fifteen homes were burned, and one hundred persons killed or carried off to Canada.”
Every year to two years, someone stops by the Town Hall or writes concerning the mural. This year, Mr. Selig received a very thoughtful email from a concerned resident as follows:
“I . . . wanted to bring up an issue that has been on my mind, for years, really. It is the Mural in the Durham Post Office, specifically the two panels that relate to indigenous peoples. One is the panel that says "Cruel Adversity" and depicts a native person with a torch about to burn a settler's house down. The other is titled "Native Ingenuity" and shows a sailboat on the river, but of course, it is not referencing natives at all, but white settlers. Both of these have troubled me for years . . . but have truly disturbed me in the past couple of years. I do not believe that any other ethnic group would have had to continue to have these depictions still on the wall, and I would like to respectfully advocate for their alteration or removal. I know there is a lot of support from folks I have spoken with, but also realize that it is a piece of art that may be deemed historical, though that does not remedy the racial stereotyping the panels depict.”
An article in the Union Leader newspaper ran earlier this week in regard to the topic which can be viewed HERE.
Where the Post Office is a Federal building this is not necessarily an issue for the Town. If someone wants to make a federal case out of it, they literally can. At the same time, clearly a number of townspeople are concerned by the painting, which draws in the community as part of the conversation.
The Indian Wars had plenty of atrocities on both sides. Native Americans and English settlers—each had complicated allegiances with France and England, respectively. The adversity was indeed cruel on both sides!
The other perspective is that the history many of us were taught in school during the 1950-1970’s was typically slanted toward the settlers, and this painting for some may reinforce the stereotype that the Native Americans were always the cruel ones, and the European whites were the victims, which was certainly not the case. There is no painting in the Post Office lobby that suggests otherwise.
After years of considering it, viewing it, and hearing from others about it, some who like it and some who don't, while Admin. Selig understands why it might make people uncomfortable, he does not personally have concerns for that painting, and in fact has come to appreciate it as one among a set of other paintings that together depict the history and times that were a reality for Durham’s early inhabitants. All the works in that collection, including the ones being targeted, are worthy of American history as it was at a point in time. Denying our history is these days fashionable and politically correct, but that does not make it right. In Mr. Selig's mind, removing that portrait would be a greater insult to our Durham history. This is not to mention that there are larger freedom of speech issues in play.
Perhaps an answer to the issue looking forward (after having gathered additional information) would be to work with the Post Office, the Durham Human Rights Commission, the Durham Heritage Commission, the Durham Historic Association, and other appropriate entities such as the New Hampshire Commission on Native American Affairs to discuss further and document the history of the mural so that we all have/understand the precise specifics of the mural set, and to provide bookends around the relevance of the artwork to Durham’s past. Perhaps additional artwork could be considered as well for the Post Office that offers an alternative perspective and, together with the historical artwork, provides a fuller picture of the early American colonial AND Native American experience in the land that eventually became Durham.
There are of course many other solutions as well.
It is likely this will be a long-term topic for the community to discuss and work through with the US Post Office as the postal service has apparently received a request from an attorney representing a Native American organization to remove the panel altogether.
A photograph of other images in the mural set at the Durham Post Office dating to 1959. Courtesy Todd Selig
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CONTRACTORS OFFERING TO CUT TREES FOR FREE IN DURHAM | There is no free ride.
There have been contractors over the last several weeks offering to cut trees on private properties in Durham for free. Residents are certainly free to undertake such work as long as they do so in accordance with local regulations, such as filing an intent to cut for large timer cuts and remaining outside wetland and shoreland setbacks.
However, our staff has become aware of information that may be discouraging to the property owners that have had trees cut down to date. In a nutshell, such companies typically take only the trees they cut off the lot that are able to be sent to a sawmill for a profit. Everything else, they leave. This includes logs the contractor doesn't want, and “slash” (all the other limbs, etc.).
The homeowner is then responsible for the removal/cleanup of what the contractor leaves behind — junk wood, stumps, limbs, uneven ground, required chipping, etc.
Several of the sites staff have seen after the fact in Durham look like a tornado has come through with large timber pieces helter-skelter, pell-mell.
The state requires that such slash be cleaned up to reduce fire load within 100’ of a structure (any structure) and within 25’ of all property lines. Clearly this can be expensive!
Folks who believe renting a chipper themselves on a Saturday will be sufficient to clean up the site will be sorely (think sore back) mistaken. The limbs of large numbers of trees can take a week to chip, and the stumps and butts that are left will need heavy duty equipment to address.
Again, residents are free to utilize such services and in many cases it might work well, but they should do so as a smart consumer. Remember, caveat emptor!
If residents have questions, they are encourages to contact Durham’s Tree Warden/Public Works Director Mike Lynch at mlynch@ci.durham.nh.us.
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SECTION OF ROUTE 108/NEWMARKET ROAD TO BE CLOSED NEXT WEEK
Police are urging drivers to find an alternate route through a busy section of Newmarket next week.
New Hampshire DOT will close Route 108 at the railroad crossing near New Road beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 and it will remain closed until Thursday, Dec. 8 at approximately 6 p.m., Newmarket Police said in a press release. Emergency work will be performed on the railroad track crossing.
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ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK SCHEDULED FOR DURHAM EVERSOURCE LINES IN DECEMBER
Eversource's maintenance group continually inspects the lines in the company’s right-of-ways and as a result of a recent inspection, they found that a few of the existing structures within Seacoast Reliability Project corridor in Durham need attention -- replacing bracing and woodpecker damage to the wood poles. To ensure the integrity and reliability of the line they plan to access three structures (one near Timberbrook Lane, one near Sandybrook Drive, and potentially one near Longmarsh Road). Work at each location is not expected to take more than 1 hour. This work is not related to the Seacoast Reliability Project proposal currently under review by the NH Site Evaluation Committee. The work is planned to take place in December.
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EVERSOURCE SEACOAST RELIABILITY PROJECT UPDATE– Eversource files report from environmental engineer on soil tests within Little Bay project corridor
This week, Eversource filed a report dated 12/1/16 from its consulting engineering firm, Normandeau Associates (http://www.normandeau.com/), in regard to the company’s proposed crossing of the Little Bay utilizing a jet plow technique.
The report is titled, “Characterization of Sediment Quality along Little Bay Crossing, Durham to Newington, NH.”
The following excerpt is from the report’s executive summary:
“Public Service Company of New Hampshire d/b/a Eversource Energy (PSNH) is proposing to construct a new 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the existing Madbury and Portsmouth substations. The Seacoast Reliability Project (SRP) would be located in the Towns of Madbury, Durham and Newington as well as the City of Portsmouth, in Strafford and Rockingham Counties, New Hampshire. The 12.9-mile long project would begin at the existing PSNH Madbury Substation in Madbury, traversing Durham, crossing approximately 0.9 miles of Little Bay via an underwater cable into Newington, and then continuing east before ending in Portsmouth. The entire project lies within existing electric corridor on land, and a mapped cable corridor across Little Bay. The proposed cable installation methods in Little Bay include jet plowing and hand jetting, and will necessarily disturb sediments and suspend them into the water column.
Previous testing of surface sediments by USEPA indicated that sediment quality in Little Bay is good. However, in response to concerns regarding the potential increased exposure risk resulting from the dispersal of possible sediment-borne contaminants in the Great Bay system, Eversource conducted sediment testing along the cable route. Sediments along the proposed cable crossing were sampled to the planned burial depth where possible using a vibratory sampler. At several locations, the presence of stiff, naturally occurring clay (“native” or “parent” material) several feet below the substrate surface prevented penetration of the sampler to the full planned depth. In shallow portions of the route where cable burial is planned to be 3.5 feet, four-foot deep cores were collected, homogenized, and analyzed for chemical constituents. Where the cable will cross the channel, burial will be to 8 feet. When cores penetrated greater than 4 feet, the upper 4 feet of sediments was separated from the lower section and the two portions were analyzed separately.
All samples were analyzed for typical dredge material analytes (grain size, total organic carbon (TOC), a suite of metals, specific PAHs, and specific PCBs) as well as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), dioxins/furans, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Results were compared to existing data on sediment contaminants in Little Bay and to available screening criteria that were developed based on biological responses to exposure. Grain size, TOC, metal, PAH, and PCB concentrations had all been studied in Little Bay during the US EPA National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA) program. Results of the site-specific survey were consistent with the NCCA data and were all below levels of environmental concern with the exception of arsenic. Arsenic was slightly higher than the lowest screening level value, but within the range of concentrations observed in Little Bay in the NCCA program. The NCCA program also included bioassay testing and determined that exposure to sediments from Little Bay resulted in no significant difference in mortality compared to reference sediments.
TPH, PFOA, and PFOS results all fell below detection limits in every sample. Dioxins/furans occurred in most samples but at very low levels, never exceeding the screening guidelines. As discussed in Appendix A, the results of the sediment testing were examined in the context of ecological risk. This analysis concluded that there is no potential for ecological effects from constituents of potential concern in the sediments that will be disturbed during cable installation, including metals, PAHs, PCBs, PFCs, dioxins and furans.
Grain size data were consistent with the values used during the sediment plume modeling that predicted the potential to exposure Great Bay Estuary resources to suspended sediments during cable installation using jet plow and hand jetting. Coupled with the high quality of the sediments in terms of contaminants, this consistency indicates that impacts to bay resources as a result of cable installation will be minimal."
To see the full report filed with the NH Site Evaluation Committee, click HERE.
The Counsel for the Public from the NH Department of Justice, representing the NH public, has retained ESS Group to analyze and provide an unbiased, independent technical review on the impacts to marine resources associated with the Seacoast Reliability Project’s proposed underwater cable installation in Little Bay, including a review of the sediment dispersion modeling submitted by Eversource.
ESS will independently test the analysis and conclusions contained in the application as submitted by Eversource’s environmental experts, and inform the SEC and parties to the case whether the project will create an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment. The total cost of services and expenses to be provided by ESS will be approximately $82,000 to be paid for by Eversource by order of the SEC. Durham had previously joined with the Attorney for the Public in the request for an independent third party examination of Eversource's engineering analysis.
Learn more about the Eversource Seacoast Reliability Project HERE.
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Top l-r: Fire Chief Corey Landry awards FF Barry Lavigne with the Chiefs award and Captain Nate Katz with the Officer of the Year award. Bottom l-r: Fire Chief Landry presents FF Eric Vierkant with the Call Firefighter of the Year award and FF Matt Hunter with the Firefighter of the Year Award. Courtesy Will Lenharth, Call FF
DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT HOLDS ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY AND AWARDS CEREMONY
At its annual Holiday Party last evening (12/1/16), the Durham Fire Department presented the following awards to its members:
15 Years of Service Awards: Captain James Brown, Firefighter Scott Campbell
Officer of the Year: Captain Nate Katz
Firefighter of the Year: Firefighter Matt Hunt
Call Firefighter of the Year: Call Firefighter Eric Vierkant
Chiefs Award: Barry Lavigne
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Unit Citations. These citations are given to units for exceptional work during very critical calls and traumatic events:
Fire Citation: Assistant Chief Dave Emanuel, Fire Captain Jason Best, Firefighter Ken Lundberg, Firefighter Scott MaGrath, Firefighter Matt Hunt.
EMS Citation: Fire Captain Jason Best, Firefighter David Blatchford, Firefighter Scott MaGrath, Firefighter Andrew Davis, Firefighter Matt Hunt.
EMS Citation: Fire Captain James Brown, Firefighter Brendan O’Sullivan, Firefighter Keith Leclair, Firefighter Peter Leavitt, Firefighter Andrew Davis.
EMS Citation: Captain James Brown, Firefighter David Blatchford, Firefighter/Inspector Jessica Plante, Firefighter Dan Brothwell, Firefighter Warren Kadden.
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PLANNING BOARD SETS IN MOTION PROCESS FOR UPDATE OF FUTURE LAND USE CHAPTER OF NEW MASTER PLAN
Last week, the Planning Board appointed a Land Use Committee (or “Committee”) to oversee the development of the Land Use Chapter of the Master Plan. Assuming that $30,000 in funding is approved in the Town budget as proposed, the Committee will work on the chapter throughout 2017 with the goal of the Planning Board adopting the chapter by the end of 2017. Strafford Regional Planning Commission (Liz Durfee, Kyle Pimental, and Cynthia Copeland) will continue on as our consultant, writing the chapter under the direction of the Land Use Committee.
After the Committee endorses the chapter it will be conveyed to the Planning Board for a public hearing, incorporation of appropriate changes, and adoption. As you probably know, the Planning Board adopted 10 other chapters of the Master Plan in November 2015. Those chapters can be viewed HERE.
Rather than appointing members to the Land Use Committee from various Town boards and committees, the Planning Board thought it best to select the members of the Committee from the Planning Board itself and from the former Master Plan Advisory Committee (that oversaw the other 10 chapters). The Land Use Committee will ask the Town boards and committees to provide representatives, as needed, to serve as resource people to the Committee. There will be significant opportunities for public input into the chapter as it gets developed.
Based on the recommendations of an ad hoc Planning Board Subcommittee, the board appointed the following 8 people to serve on the new Land Use Committee:
- Doug Bencks
- Bob Brown
- Andrew Corrow
- Barbara Dill
- Molly Donovan
- Joe Moore
- Paul Rasmussen
- Peter Wolfe
Michael Behrendt will serve as staff to the Land Use Committee and Mr. Selig will participate in the process as well. All meetings of the Committee will be noticed public meetings.
An initial meeting of this committee is scheduled for next Monday, December 5, 2016, at 2PM and will be held in the Council chambers at Town Hall.
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Progress continues on renovations to the old Town Office building. It will become the home of a high tech geo-mapping company. Courtesy DCAT Studios
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PROPOSED FY2017 BUDGET UPDATE
The Town Council held a budget work session on Monday evening, 11/28/16, from 7 PM until around 10:30 PM. At the meeting, the Council heard additional feedback on the proposed budget from the public, discussed the Library Trustees’ request for additional funding for Library staff, heard from the Police and Fire Departments, discussed whether to alter the allocation of value reserved for the downtown TIF (currently at 7%) in response to public feedback received (the Council did not appear inclined to make a change), briefly discussed potential funding sources for a possible part-time or contract Land Stewardship Position, discussed whether to allocate funds for engineering associated with the potential dredging of the Mill Pond/repairs to the Mill Pond Dam, and discussed the need for the $1.96 million addition/renovation of the Durham Police Department. The Council closed the public hearing on the budget but will allow the public to speak for more than 5 minutes on budget-related issues during public comments on Dec. 5 and 12.
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REMINDERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
As the holiday season approaches, please remember to remove all packing peanuts or packaging materials from cardboard boxes so they can be properly recycled.
Also, during the winter months especially, the Swap shop at the Transfer Station will not accept any furniture or bulky items as the weather and snow make it even more difficult to manage. Come spring, should space allow, items will be welcomed at the shop again.
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TOWN OFFICES CLOSING SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS
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THOMPSON/MAGRATH DRAINAGE PROJECT
Thompson/Magrath Drainage Project starts Monday and Tuesday the 21st and 22nd. Work will resume again after the Thanksgiving Day Holiday on Monday the 28th.
The contractor will begin work on Monday the 21st at the corner of Thompson Lane and Valentine Hill.
This project will install a drainage pipe on Magrath Road to Thompson Lane and on Thompson Lane from Magrath Road to Valentine Hill Road. It will also include installing new catch basins and replacing old ones. This project is expected to take 2-3 weeks.
Questions can be directed to Town Engineer April Talon at 603-868-5578 or atalon@ci.durham.nh.us
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MEETINGS: SCHEDULE AND VIDEO ON DEMAND
The following public meetings are scheduled for the coming week All meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the Council chambers at the Durham Town Hall unless otherwise indicated below. Click on the meetings listed below to view agendas and other information.
Town Council - Monday, December 5, 2016
Durham Energy Committee - Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Conservation Commission - Thursday, December 8, 2016
Parks & Recreation Committee - Thursday, December 8, 2016 (2nd Floor Conference Room, Town Hall)
All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library for checkout and viewing.
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LOCAL AUTHOR’S SECOND ADULT COLORING BOOK CELEBRATES WOMEN - Bridget Finnegan!
Meet 33 amazing women in Durham author, illustrator, and resident Bridget Finnegan’s latest coloring book for grown-ups. Combining art with humor and now education, her Doc MacDoodle® series may be of interest.
Josephine Baker, who received the French Medal of Honor after working for the resistance during World War II, is featured in the book as well as Cleopatra, Marie Curie, Amy Winehouse, and Margaret Mead. Colorists will learn about the beehive ladies, including the inventor of the beehive hairdo, and a variety of other amazing women like the only female leader of China for four millennia, the first woman in recorded history to earn her living as a writer, and a woman who became a regular on “What’s My Line?”
Finnegan, an illustrator and author, is the creative director at the University of New Hampshire when she is not designing coloring books and keeping DocMacDoodle in line.
For more information, please visit http://www.bridgetfinnegan.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/docmacdoodle. Download images at http://www.bridgetfinnegan.com/media/
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AMTRAK DOWNEASTER - NEW SCHEDULE - MORE OPTIONS - Starting November 21st
Beginning November 21, 2016, Amtrak Downeaster passengers will enjoy even more travel options to/from Brunswick and Freeport thanks to the addition of two new daily trains.The expanded schedule provides more options for business travelers on weekdays, and sports fans on weekends.
View the new schedule HERE.
The Amtrak Downeaster is celebrating 15 years of service with 15% off its fares
through December 31, 2016. (Tickets must be purchased 3 days in advance of travel. Reference promotion code v503).
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DCAT CABLE CHANNEL 22
Enjoy the latest video from DCAT 22 Studios. Volunteer, Phil Kincade recorded the moving Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Durham Public Library. DCAT works hard to bring you interesting video from the Durham Community. Total run time: 28 minutes. The video can be seen on Cable Channel 22 @ 3:00 PM on Saturday & Sunday. It may also be viewed HERE.
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DCAT 22 Studios was on the road again for our latest episode of “In the Biz” Durham Business Spotlight. Join your host, Economic Development Director, Mary Ellen Humphrey as she chats with Amy Gibbs, owner of Amy’s Frame Shop, located inside Hayden Sports. Amy’s will custom frame just about anything, she also has a wide selection of off the shelf frames available. Did you know that she has a Kodak Kiosk to professionally print your digital photos! Please take a few minutes to watch this video short. In the Biz can be seen on DCAT Cable Channel 22 on Saturday & Sunday @ 12:30 & 6:00 PM. The video is also available for viewing On Demand.
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Were you unable to attend the American Southwest presentation by Durham Town Planner, Michael Behrendt on November 2nd at the Durham Public Library? No worries, DCAT 22’s volunteer, Phil Kincade was there capture the presentation on video. Sit back and enjoy as Michael spins his yarns on he and Naomi’s southwestern travel. Plenty of photos and beautiful scenery too! This video can be seen on Cable Channel 22 @ 4:00 PM – Saturday & Sunday. It can also be seen On Demand. Total run time: 45 minutes
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Durham Police Facility Video. DCAT 22 Studios has created the first video in a series of others which are designed to inform residents of the needs of the police facility. This first 15 minute video focuses upon the three critical and immediate needs that challenge the agency. While the department will be presenting and hosting opportunities to tour the facility, the series of short videos will offer some exposure to areas at the police department that the public rarely sees. The video airs on DCAT Cable Channel 22: Monday – Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday & Sunday @ 7:30 PM. It’s also available On Demand.
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DCAT is Live Streaming. Please join DCAT for any of our regularly scheduled meetings live-streamed directly to the device of your choice . It’s easy, all you have to do is go to: live-stream.com and follow the prompts to set up your live stream account. You’ll receive email updates as to when the meeting will be held and the start time. All you have to do is click and watch. Live-stream works on any PC (just remember to update your Adobe Flash player), Apple or Android device. Please contact dcat@ci.durham.nh.us with any questions.
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DPW crew worked on clearing branches from the edge of the road on Schoolhouse Lane this week. Courtesy DCAT Studios
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PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
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.
Tree Lighting Celebration- Saturday, December 3rd on Main Street. 6-8pm. Enjoy raffles, bonfire, s’mores, hot cocoa, holiday crafts, photo bus, ice sculpting demonstration, and much more! Visit with Santa and be there as we light up the tree for the holiday season!
Pick-Up Pickleball
Our Pickleball program has moved to the Oyster River High School MPR. We are now playing on two courts!! Please join us Wednesdays from 6-8pm at the Oyster River High. All equipment is provided, participation is free.
Save The Date:
December Vacation Week Activities- Join us December 27th-January 2nd for vacation week fun! A schedule of activities will be out shortly!
Family Sweetheart Dance- Friday, February 20th 6-8pm at the Oyster River High School- MPR. Tickets go on sale January 2, 2017!
Martial Arts Class- Thursdays, January 12th-February 16th
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COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Durham Churches Annual Christmas Fair, Saturday, Dec 3, 2016, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. The tradition of the Christmas Fair continues at The Community Church of Durham, The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, St. Thomas More, and St. George Episcopal Church.
5th Annual Oyster River HS Hockey Mattress Fundraiser, Saturday, Dec 3, 2016, 10AM - 4PM, Oyster River High School. Save up to 50% off retail. All mattresses are brand new with full factory warranties. Every purchase benefits the Hockey team.
OR Trails Volunteer Day, Saturday, Dec 3, 2016, 10AM - 12:30PM. Show some love for Durham trails with the Conservation Commission and Land Stewardship Committee. Oyster River Trails need help brushing out trails, clearing invasive plants from trail head areas, and more. Gloves, tools, and snacks provided - just bring yourself (and friends!). Sign-up HERE. Contact malinelyclyde@gmail.com with questions.
Oyster River Holiday Bazaar, Saturday, Dec 3, 2016, 9AM - 1PM, OR Middle School (entrance through the cafeteria in the back of the school). Many local artisans and vendors will be attending.
"The Nutcracker” Ballet hosted by Northeastern Ballet, Sat., Dec. 3, 7PM; Sun., Dec. 4, 2016, 2PM at ORHS auditorium; Dec 10, 2016, 7PM @ Kingswood Arts Center, Wolfeboro. Tickets, call 603-834-8834. Adult/$20, Children/Seniors $17.50, Family of Four/$60. Group rates available for 10 or more HERE.
Feast for the Forest Dinner, to help conserve Powder Major's Farm & Forest, Friday, Dec 9, 2016, 6 - 8:30 PM, ORHS Cafeteria, Donations: $25/family($30 at door), $10/individual, $5/student. Sponsored by Madbury, Lee, Durham Conservation Commissions, OR Watershed Assoc, 7 Rivers Paddling, NEMO, Eureka. Raffle. RSVP barbaraelilly@gmail.com. Learn more HERE.
Holiday Drop and Shop, Saturday, Dec 10, 2016, 1-6PM, Madbury Town Hall. ORHS Girl Scout Troop 22916 will be providing a Drop & Shop childcare fundraiser. Troop is fundraising to go to London to visit the World Girl Guide/Scouting Headquarters. Spots limited. Reserve via kenshuman@comcast.net. $25 per child, $40 max per family. All Scouts and Leaders First Aid/CPR/AED certified. Games, snack, and crafts included.
ORHS Project Graduation Fundraiser - Holiday Wreaths. Order a beautiful, fragrant wreath which will support Project Graduation for the Class of 2017. For more information and to order a wreath, click HERE.
UNH Museum of Art Upcoming Events. View schedule of events HERE.
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Snowflake Social this Weds. Dec. 6th from 4-6 pm, music, crafts, food... All are welcome!
DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
The Library will be closed at 2 pm on Weds. Nov. 23rd and re-open on Monday Nov. 28th at noon. Happy Thanksgiving.
Children’s and Young Adult Programs:
Family Program- Sugar Cookie Decorating! Sat. Dec. 3rd at 10:30 am - Join this fun family art program, decorate some tasty treats!
YA Monday - Post-It Note Murals! Decorate the YA room! Monday, December 5th at 2:45PM - Drop by the YA room at 2:45 PM on Monday, December 5th to help us decorate the YA room with new post-it note murals. Come be creative and make the YA room your own. This program is designed for young adults ages 10 and up. Snacks provided! Monday, Dec. 12th: Holiday Movie: Elf!
Teen Advisory Board! Monday, December 5th at 6:30PM - The teen advisory board is open to kids ages 10 and up! We want to hear from you! Tell the staff about books you would like to see in the collection, activities you want to try, movies you want to watch, or anything else you feel we should know. During our monthly meeting we will also enjoy local pizza! This month we will be decorating cookies and making recipe books. Bring in a recipe to share!
Storytimes Tues. Dec. 6th and Thurs. Dec. 8th at 10:30 am - “Mittens and Winter Clothing!”
Baby Lap-sit (ages 2 & under with care giver) Weds. Dec. 7th at 10:30 am
Knitting and Craft Club for 3rd-5th graders Weds. Dec. 7th 4-5 pm (register at the Children’s desk).
Join us for Lego Club (K-4th grade) on Thurs. Dec. 8th at 3:30-4:30 pm! Our weekly challenge will be Build a lego snow machine!
Home-schooler’s Group Friday, Dec. 9th at 10:30 am. - “Make-It!”
Raccoon Readers, 2nd-4th grade book group, Tues. Dec. 6th, 6:00-7:00 pm – Join us for our monthly book group. This month’s book is “The Very Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot!” by Caroline Carlson. We talk about the book, play some games, make a fun craft and enjoy a snack. Books are available at the Circulation desk.
Bookeaters, Middle School Book Group, Weds. Dec. 14th 2:45-4:00 pm – Join us for this month’s book group. This month’s book is “Nooks & Crannies” by Jessica Lawson. Ruth Wharton McDonald is the facilitator. Books are available at the circulation desk. Pizza is served.
Gundalow Family Program with the Gundalow Company! Sat. Dec. 10th at 10:30 am - Take a trip through time with the Gundalow Company and explore the Piscataqua Region through stories, activities and crafts. Using models and maps we’ll talk about the historical role of the Gundalow on our Rivers. We’ll take a look at the amazing network of rivers outside our doors and read some books about the Rivers and life in the water. Test your skills as a sailor by tying some knots, building your own Gundalow model, creating Gundalow origami, and designing your own plankton. All ages and all are welcome!
Pajama Storytime - Holidays! Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30PM NOTE DATE CHANGE!! - Join Oyster River Parents & Preschoolers (ORPP) at the Durham Public Library for our monthly evening storytime for preschoolers! This month we will be all about the Holidays. Come hear stories, do the feltboard, sing some jingle bells, and make a fun Holiday craft. Snack provided by ORPP and all are welcome!
Family Movie: Arthur Christmas! Sat. Dec. 17th at 10:30 am - Join us for this fun holiday movie: Arthur Christmas! This movie is shown upstairs in the Oyster River Room. Popcorn is served and all are welcome!
Jack & Annie Book Club (Grades K-2) Tuesday, December 20th at 4:00 – 5:00 PM - Join us for our new monthly book club made just for kids in kindergarten through 2nd grade! During our meeting we will talk about our book club book, play games, and make a craft. This month we are reading "Eve of the Emperor Penguin" by Mary Pope Osborne. Books are available at the circulation desk. Registration is required. Please sign-up at the Children's desk!
Make-It-Take-It Craft! Feltboard Gingerbread House! Week of December 27th through December 31st. - Drop by the Storytime/Craft room during vacation week to make a fun feltboard gingerbread house. Come and be creative with felt. NO REGULARLY SCHEDULED CHILDREN’S/YA PROGRAMS THIS WEEK. PROGRAMS START AGAIN THE WEEK OF JAN. 2ND. CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR FOR DETAILS...
Join the Patch Program! Come and join and collect your patches! This program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Durham Public Library.
Adult Programs:
2nd Annual Library Snowflake Social, Tuesday, December 6, 2016, 4-6pm - Live Music performed by Dave Howland, Mike Hawley & Steve Diamond 2016, Gingerbread House Unveiling with Trudy Higgins Brown, Spinning demonstration with Katie Ellis - Katie will demonstrate spinning wool into yarn on a castle-style spinning wheel that she received as a wedding present from her husband. She will also have related tools such as wool cards and hand spindles. Questions are welcome!, Origami Star making with Artist Jane Shannon, Crafts & Tasty Treats - everyone is invited! Snow date is Wed. 12/7/2016 Contact: Armida Geiger ageiger@ci.durham.nh.us
DPL Community Meet & Greet: Meet Rose Bebris, a Final Candidate for the DPL Director Position - Mon. Dec. 12, 7:00-8:00 pm The Durham Public Library Board of Trustees cordially invite you to meet a finalist for the DPL Director position to be held in the Oyster River Community Room at the library. Rose will discuss about her background and her vision for a 21st century library. There will be time for the community to ask questions and light refreshments will be served.
Brief candidate background: Rose grew up in Pelham NH, graduated cum laude in English from UNH and received her Master’s in Information Resources and Library Science from the University of Arizona. Rose’s entire career has been spent in libraries—from her position as a page at the Nashua Public Library before and during her undergraduate years at UNH to her current position as the Director of the Florence Community Library in Florence, Arizona. While Rose has served as the Director in Florence for almost twelve years, she also worked in children and youth services for more than a decade in both NH and AZ prior to her current post. Rose is an active member of the Arizona Library Association and serves as Chair of the Pinal County Library District Federation.
Seacoast Area Firefighters Toy Bank - We are proud to support the Seacoast Fire Fighters Toy Bank again this year. They will have a Toy Bank drop off box at the library between Nov. 28 thru Dec. 20. Want to do a good deed and get your overdue library late fees erased? Donate an unwrapped new toy and your fines will be erased. This does not apply to lost items.
Oyster River Knitters Tues. Dec. 6, 7-9 pm - Contact Janet 868-1142 Join in for a couple hours of knitting relaxation and conversation. This is a great time to pick up that knitting project you’ve wanted to finish. There's no need to pre-register; just show up. New participants of all skill levels are welcome!
Upcoming: December Artist of the Month- Christy Hull Hegarty Save the date for the Artist Reception Thursday, Dec. 15, 6:30pm
Oyster River ASD Friends Tues. Dec. 13, 6:30-8:30 pm - Join our group for parents of teens and young adults on the autism spectrum. Conversation, resource sharing and speakers to address how we can best encourage and support Independence.
Acoustic Open Mic with Mike Wed. Dec. 14, 6:30-7:30 - Held in the Cafe. All are welcome, first time performers and original music are particularly encouraged.
DPL Trustees meeting Wed. Dec. 14, 6:45-8:00 pm
Friends of the Durham Public Library - The Friends will not hold any book donation week in December. Also, the Friends will not meet in December.
The library offers help for people who need assistance using technology: computers, iPads & cell phones, eReaders (Nook, Kindle, etc.) Call to check on availability of the volunteers and set up an appointment. 868-6699 or email durhampl@gmail.com
For more information, visit the Durham Public Library website.
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The on-duty crews of Durham Fire, Durham Police, UNH Police, and McGregor Memorial EMS enjoy a Thanksgiving holiday meal with their Public Safety family.
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