Friday Updates - December 8, 2023

Friday, December 8, 2023

Last Saturday's Frost Fest brought many people to Durham's Downtown. Courtesy, Todd Selig

In mid-November, Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, was celebrated. It's a 5-day festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. It honors gods, goddesses, harvests, New Years, etc., and symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kartika.

Hanukkah began last evening, Dec. 7th, at sundown. One of the most widely observed Jewish holidays, it is a festive eight-day celebration that for many people falls during the darkest, coldest season of the year! Also called the Festival of Lights, the holiday brings light, joy, and warmth to the homes of those who celebrate. Hanukkah (alternately spelled Chanukah), meaning "dedication" in Hebrew, commemorates the victory of a small group of Jewish rebels (led by Judah Maccabee and his brothers, collectively known as “the Maccabees”) over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and "rededication" of the Temple in Jerusalem. 

Beginning Western Christianity’s liturgical year, Advent is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas on December 25th. The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs the hearts and minds of Christians to Christ’s second coming and to the anniversary of Jesus Christ’s birth on Christmas.

Happy holidays to one and all!

ATTRACTIVE HOLIDAY DISPLAYS REPORTED BY RESIDENTS THIS PAST WEEK IN DURHAM

As mentioned in last week’s “Friday Updates,” we have received some reports of attractive holiday light displays in town. Members of the community may want to take a drive by to see for themselves. 

• Madbury Road Corridor, Route 4 to downtown Durham - various static lights
• Emerson Rd - various static lights
• Emery Farm (Route 4) - Large static tree
• Scotland Rd - Large animated light display (website HERE)
• Emerson Rd at Edgewood Rd - House/yard with static lights
• Spur Rd nearby the traffic circle - Large drive through display (technically in Dover, but not too far)

FREE HOLIDAY PARKING IN DOWNTOWN DURHAM TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES BEGINNING DEC. 20

Free holiday parking for shoppers will begin on Wednesday, December 20 and run through Tuesday, January 2. 

The parking kiosks in the immediate downtown business area will allow free parking to encourage residents and others to shop the downtown during the holidays. The screen on the applicable kiosks will inform parkers of the free parking and will not accept any payment.

No receipts on your dashboard will be required during the Holiday Parking period.

DURHAM RESIDENT AND FORMER CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEMBER OTHO WELLS PASSES ON

Some sad news this week. Otho Wells, 85, of Durham, passed away on November 21, 2023, after a sudden and brief illness. Otho was a member of the Conservation Commission for many years and could often be found keeping the Town’s trails clear of brush and debris as a volunteer. In his free time, Otho could be found working in his yard and garden at the corner of Bagdad and Canney Roads. His obituary is 100% accurate: Otho had the most beautifully kept house and yard in town, and he would strike up a nice conversation with neighbors walking by! Otho’s obituary can be found HERE.

Diane Tregea and Katalin Brown enjoyed meeting Santa and Frost Fest last weekend! Courtesy, Todd Selig

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR AN ELDERLY EXEMPTION?

Due to the 2023 revaluation, increased residential assessments and in some instances increased property taxes, several Durham residents have been inquiring as to whether they qualify for an elderly exemption.

The following information is the criteria needed to qualify for an elderly exemption:

INCOME GUIDELINES

    Single: Cannot exceed $47,000

    Married: Cannot exceed $65,000

ASSET GUIDELINES

Single/Married: Excluding your primary residence plus 2 acres, cannot exceed $200,000.

EXEMPTION AMOUNTS

The exemption amount is based on age and is subtracted from your assessed valuation.

Ages 65 through 74: The exemption is $175,000.

Ages 75 through 79: The exemption is $225,000.

Ages 80 and over: The exemption is $275,000.

AGE, RESIDENCY & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• The applicant must be at least age 65 or over as of April 1st of the year applying and a resident of New Hampshire for the past 3 consecutive years. Proof of age must be submitted, ie. current driver’s license.

• The property for which the exemption is claimed must be owned by the applicant and be his/her principal place of abode.

• If the spouse of the applicant owns the real estate, the couple must have been married for at least five years.

• The applicant must sign the permanent application and the annual tax exemption financial worksheet & affidavit. The worksheet and affidavit are available as a separate document during the filing period.

• Supporting documentation for income and asset amounts must be presented with the application.

• If the property is held in a trust or life estate, a copy of the trust and the Statement of Qualification Form (PA-33) must be filed with this application. (Please contact our office for a copy of this form)

• This application must be filed annually by April 15th, preceding the setting of the tax rate.

• Tax exemptions cannot be claimed in more than one community within New Hampshire nor if receiving similar benefits elsewhere, such as Florida Homestead exemption.

• Income, Asset & Exemption amounts are subject to change from year to year. Durham recently increased the asset and exemption amounts for tax year 2023.

The Assessing Office shall grant the exemption provided the taxpayer qualifies in all categories, the Office is satisfied that the applicant has not willfully made any false statements in the application for the purpose of obtaining the exemption, and the applicant co-operated with any Assessing Official’s request for further documentation if it applies.

PLEASE CALL THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE WITH ANY QUESTIONS: 603-868-8064

Some young residents playing during Frost Fest on a pile of snow made from Churchill Rink ice shavings brought downtown by DPW. Courtesy Todd Selig

DURHAM UTILITY AND PROPERTY TAX BILLS DUE IN DECEMBER

Utility Bills Due: Tuesday, December 14, 2023 

Property Tax Bills Due: Monday, December 18, 2023 

Property tax bills were mailed by November 17, 2023, and are due on December 18, 2023. Utility bills (water/sewer) were mailed by November 14, 2023, and are due on December 14, 2023. Bills may be paid by cash, check or credit card (additional fees apply for credit/debit cards). Payments are accepted in person, online, or by mail to the Town Office at 8 Newmarket Road, Durham, NH 03824, or to our Lock Box (self-addressed envelope included with bill). 

The Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office is here to help residents/taxpayers answer any questions regarding property tax or utility bills. You may contact them by email at rdeane@ci.durham.nh.us or phone 603-868-5577 or you may stop in the office between 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday. 

For questions regarding your property assessment, please contact Town Assessor, Jim Rice, at 603-868-8064 or jrice@ci.durham.nh.us.

The Durham Historic District/Heritage Commission is hosting three roundtable discussions in early 2024 to talk about the Oyster River Massacre Marker and potential revised language for the marker. The marker was removed from its location on Newmarket Road several years ago by NH Historic Resources and NHDOT, along with numerous other signs statewide, pending a re-evaluation of the appropriateness of certain existing markers. See the picture of the former sign above. The roundtable discussions will be held on the following dates.  

• Thursday, January 18
• Thursday, February 15
• Thursday, March 21

These meetings will be held in Council Chambers in Durham Town Hall from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The Town of Durham has hired Charlotte Bacon and Barbara Will of Montgomery Will Consulting to facilitate a conversation about the sign, potential new language for the sign, and how the community might address broader related issues more effectively.  

The NH Division of Historical Resources had worked with several interested parties over the last year in trying to formulate revised language for the marker, but no agreement has been reached among the parties. 

In order to help address the issue, the Durham Historic District/Heritage Commission (HDC/HC) offered to host discussions among the stakeholders and requested that the Town of Durham hire a consultant to facilitate them. Admin. Todd Selig as well as Nadine Miller and Amy Dixon of the NHDHR have given their okay for this process. NHDHR, in coordination with NHDOT, will make the final determination about how to handle the marker but they will likely defer to any consensus reached in these discussions.

These meetings will be open to the public, but due to limited time, there will probably not be an opportunity for members of the general public to share comments at the meetings. Any interested person is welcome to send a note to Town Planner, Michael Behrendt at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us.

Parks & Rec Director, Rachel Gasowski, surrounded by friends at Frost Fest! Courtesy, Todd Selig

GAIL KELLEY V. TOWN OF DURHAM, ET. AL – Despite Strafford County Superior Court’s denial of abutter’s appeal, which sustained the Planning Board’s approval of the Mulhern development project off Gerrish Drive, abutter appeals to NH Supreme Court

The petitioner, Gail Kelley, appealed the October 26, 2022, decision of the Durham Planning Board (“Board”) approving a subdivision application with conditional use permits.

The applicants (the Mulherns) propose to construct an age-restricted condominium development off Gerrish Drive in Durham (“the Mulhern Project”). The project requires both subdivision approval and a conditional use permit for two Gerrish Drive wetland crossings, both of which the Durham Planning Board originally granted on May 12, 2021. In an earlier case, the petitioner appealed that decision to the superior court, which held that the Board improperly accepted an incomplete application because the application lacked a verified High Intensity Soil Survey (HISS) Map. The court remanded the matter back to the Board for further proceedings. (June 1, 2022 Order).

Upon remand, both the Durham Planning Board and the Durham Conservation Commission reviewed the HISS map and reached similar conclusions, with the Commission recommending approval of the conditional use permit and the Planning Board approving both the subdivision and conditional use permit on October 26, 2022. 

The court held a hearing on May 24, 2023, at which it heard arguments from Ms. Kelley and the Town of Durham (“the Town”) represented by Town Attorney Laura Spector-Morgan. Based on the certified record, the parties’ arguments, and the applicable law, the superior court found and ruled as follows:

“The petitioner’s concerns involve the verified HISS map submitted to both the Commission and the Board, specifically that the map was too small in scope; not properly explained by the applicant’s engineer; not used appropriately; and not understood by the Board. Per the court’s first order, the applicants submitted a HISS map signed by New Hampshire Certified Soil Scientist and Wetland Scientist Michael Mariano (C.R. 127), and verified by Certified Soil Scientist Michael Cuomo (C.R. Tab B), before the applicant’s engineer presented it to the Commission and Board. Neither entity expressed issues or concerns with interpreting the map, and, moreover, the record demonstrates that the Board reviewed each individual criteria in consideration of the additional information provided by the HISS map. (C.R. 270-71). That the petitioner proposes an alternative interpretation disagreeing with the applicant’s presentation and the Board’s conclusion does not on its own render the Board’s decision unreasonable. The petitioner also objects to the use of the Gerrish Drive access, claiming that there are two other potential access points that would create less impact on the wetlands which the Board should have further investigated. Zoning Ordinance § 175-61(B)(3) requires that “[t]he location, design, construction, and maintenance of the facilities will minimize any detrimental impact on the wetland.” This court previously determined that the Board is not mandated to procure additional reports or studies to compare whether the proposed use minimizes negative effects. (See June 2022 Order at 9). Notably, the petitioner does not argue that the record lacks evidence, but, rather, disagrees with the Board’s conclusions. (See Petitioner’s Att. ¶ 60, 71). Despite the petitioner’s contentions, both the Board and the Commission found the applicant’s efforts to minimize the impact on the wetland sufficient—specifically, designing two 11-foot travel lanes, three-foot gravel shoulders, and retaining walls and grades as low as possible while meeting engineering standards. (See Orig. C.R. 471, 523; C.R. 166, 170, 270). The record clearly demonstrates that the Board reviewed all WCOD and conditional use criteria, taking into consideration the HISS map, and once again approved the project. Despite the petitioner’s disapproval of the Board’s decision, the record does not reflect evidence that the Board acted unlawfully or unreasonably. The petitioner’s appeal, therefore, is DENIED.”

To read the full superior court decision, you can download it HERE. 

Ms. Kelley subsequently requested the superior court reconsider its decision, which was denied by the court. 

The most recent appeal from Ms. Kelley is to the NH Supreme Court. If the NH Supreme Court accepts the case, such matters typically take anywhere from 12-24 months to fully adjudicate.  

In accordance with the Town Charter, in October Administrator Selig provided to the Town Council with a proposed 2024 Budget, which includes the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer (Wastewater) Fund, Library Fund, Parking Fund, Depot Road Lot Fund, Churchill Rink Fund, and Downtown TIF Fund budgets, as well as a proposed 2024-2033 Capital Improvement Plan incorporating the FY 2024 Capital Fund budget utilizing a ten-year time horizon.  

This budget cycle resulted in a proposed 2024 General Fund budget totaling $19,315,015 -- a spending increase of $1,058,766 or 5.8% compared to FY 2023.  Spending increases proposed by the Administrator were 2.31% for 2023 and 5.8% for 2024, totaling an increase over two years of 8.11% versus a combined 2023/24 CPI increase of 11.9% (U.S. CPI of 8.2% in 2023 and 3.7% in 2024). Increases are due to required wages and benefits as a result of recently ratified collective bargaining contracts, a 3% COLA for non-union personnel, insurance increases, energy/fuel costs, steep increases in various supplies, materials, and construction services, and other miscellaneous requests that will be discussed as part of the upcoming budget process. 

In total, this year’s budgetary proposal is projected to maintain the 2024 local municipal portion of the tax rate with a 0.00% increase -- the same level as proposed in 2023 at $5.75 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.  This budget proposal is consistent with Town Council goals.  

The proposed Water Fund budget carries an anticipated 1.9% increase in user fees (a rate of $10.61 per hundred cubic feet) for FY 2024.  

The proposed Sewer (Wastewater) Fund budget reflects a 7.69% increase in user fees in 2024 (a rate of $10.31 per hundred cubic feet).  

A public hearing on the proposed budget was held on November 13^th.

After much discussion and conversations over several weeks with department staff, the business office, and Mr. Selig, the Town Council unanimously adopted the FY 2024 as proposed by Administrator Selig with no changes on Monday evening, December 4^th. 

Below are the links for the 2024 Proposed Budget, 2024-2033 Proposed CIP and the 2024 Proposed Information Booklet. If anyone would like to view a hard copy of these documents, they can be viewed in the foyer at the Town Hall or at the Durham Public Library.  

Proposed 2024 Budget - Click HERE

Proposed 2024-2033 CIP - Click HERE

Proposed Budget Information Booklet - Click HERE

AS PART OF ADOPTED FY 2024 BUDGET, DURHAM’S ANNUAL SPRING BULKY WASTE COLLECTION CLEANUP HAS COME TO AN END

The Administrator’s proposed FY 2024 budget included a significant planned policy change for 2024 that will move forward with aligning Durham’s municipal solid waste and recycling practices with its sustainability goals by permanently discontinuing the annual spring bulky waste collection cleanup program. This will free up 4-6 weeks of valuable DPW staff time every springtime to address an ever-expanding list of expectations/responsibilities for the department. The Town will open the Transfer Station for two or three days during an identified period of time for residents to transport their own bulky waste materials to the facility for disposal at no cost during this finite identified time period.

As part of the Town Council’s adoption of the FY 2024 budget, the board decided to end the practice of the Town’s annual bulky waste spring pickup.  Please see the next item for an explanation as to why.

INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S ENDORSEMENT OF ENDING ANNUAL CURBSIDE BULKY WASTE PICKUP PROGRAM AND WHY

In keeping with the Durham Town Council Goals for 2023-24 to pursue long-term environmental sustainability and resiliency, and the Sustainable Durham initiative, the Town’s Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee supports the cancellation of Durham’s annual curbside bulky waste pick-up. The committee has discussed the Bulky Waste pick-up program for a number of years, and for the following reasons supports the cancellation of the Bulky Waste curbside program. 

• DPW Employees are pulled from other town operations for 4-5 weeks to complete the collection, often leading to the hiring of contract services for town projects and adding to the Town expenses. 
• Over the past three years, an average of 154.7 tons or 55% of the year’s Bulky Waste is collected from our curbsides and delivered to the landfill. This free collection has had an average disposal cost to the Town of $15,079. 
• Items picked up curbside are taken directly to the Turnkey Landfill and are not sorted for recyclables, especially metals. This sorting is possible at the Transfer Station allowing for less waste going to the landfill, reuse of resources, and revenue for the Town. 
• There are many ways to make reusable items available to other residents, the wider Seacoast area, and to those in need in and beyond our own community. These include apps that connect you to people who may want your item(s) and who will be willing to come to your home for pick up. 
• There are many private hauler options for residents who are unable to deliver bulky items to the Transfer Station. There will be days at the Transfer Station during which residents will not be required to pay for dropping off bulky waste. 
• We all need to consider where our purchases will end up in the waste stream when they are no longer useful or wanted, and if we are willing to be responsible for their disposal. Considering the entire life cycle of each item is part of practicing one of the 7 Rs of recycling, “refuse.” 

On Wednesday evening Administrator Todd Selig and Police Chief Rene Kelley sat on a panel with UNH Police Chief Paul Dean and the president of the UNH student body to discuss how best to manage electric and motorized scooters and devices in town and on the UNH campus. The Town adopted an ordinance in 2020 to address this growing phenomenon. Click HERE to see that Ordinance. (UNH establishes its own regulations for their use on university land). The devices are not allowed on any sidewalk in town. They must be equipped with a brake, a light, and a bell or other sound. The maximum allowed speed is 15 miles per hour and they must be operated toward the right side of the roadway. 

While the Town Ordinance is well crafted, the community has realized various challenges with the use of the devices – users riding on sidewalks, traveling the wrong way, weaving around traffic, and darting across intersections. Many helpful comments were shared at the meeting by UNH students, UNH bus drivers, users of the devices, and members of the broader community. The Town and UNH are working together on a plan to address concerns and educate the public.

The Town’s Traffic Safety Committee, chaired by Public Works Director Rich Reine, met Thursday morning. Consultants Tighe & Bond shared the draft results of their analysis for strategies to improve the safety of our crosswalks. The comprehensive study looked at crosswalks around campus, with a focus on the six crosswalks on Main Street from the Field House to the busy Garrison Avenue intersection, and six in-town locations on Main Street, on Dover Road, and in front of Town Hall. Recommendations were offered for type of pavement markings (Generally, the “Continental” style used on Abbey Road is preferred), installation of pedestrian bollards and new signage at appropriate locations, and possible adjustments in the geometry (physical design) of some intersections.

The Administrator and Town Planner attended UNH’s Transportation Policy Committee Thursday afternoon. UNH Transportation Planner Steve Pesci presented his richly detailed annual Benchmark Report, which provides important information about all things transportation on campus - parking use, parking revenue, bus ridership, Zipcar, the Amtrak Downeaster, the Cat Trax bike share program, and the use of motorcycles and mopeds. Use of the latter is down more than 50% over the past four years due to the rise of electric and motorized scooters and (micro-mobility) devices.  

The Beatles using an example of a "Continental" crosswalk on Abbey Road. (Not taken in Durham) Courtesy World Wide Web

NOVEMBER MONTHLY REPORT FROM DURHAM LAND STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR SARA CALLAHAN - As always, there is a lot going on!

November Progress and Activities:

• Prepared and presented a Trail Stewards training workshop to 20 new and returning trail stewards. This effort involved recruiting new volunteers, developing a curriculum, preparing and distributing supporting materials, and creating a PowerPoint presentation.

• Collaborated with Durham’s GIS specialist, Steven Lutterman, on creating an online form for the new Trail Stewards to report site visits and stewardship issues.
• Supported the Stewarding Our Lands Working Group.

            o Collected trail use information from Longmarsh Preserve

            o Attended Working Group meeting

• Met with Joanne Glode, Southern NH Stewardship Ecologist at The Nature Conservancy, at Longmarsh Preserve to walk the Sweet Trail, review options for addressing the decaying wetlands crossings, discussed potential funding sources and ways to collaborate and create consistent stewardship across conservation ownerships.
• Continued to support the Trustees of the Trust Funds who oversee Doe Farm by coordinating efforts with Charlie Moreno to update the forest management plan.
• Attended Land Stewardship Subcommittee and Conservation Commission meetings.
• Coordinated mowing of a portion of the meadow at Thompson Forest to maintain the opening for wildlife and help manage sprouting invasive species.
• Communicated with neighbors of the Pike Property about the boundary locations, through letters, emails, phone conversations and/or in person. Met and worked with one of the neighbors on removing an encroaching electric dog fence.
• Completed annual monitoring visits on four of the seven conservation easements held by the Town, including Beaudette 1, Beaudette 2, Powder Major Forest and Merrick, and coordinated the completion of the Capstone CE monitoring with contractor Ellen Snyder. The Fogg 1 easement was monitored earlier in the year and Sara will visit the Fogg 2 easement in the next couple of weeks.

Upcoming Work Days:

Tuesday November 12th, 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. - The UNH Air Force ROTC will be helping re-route portions of the blue and yellow trails at Longmarsh Preserve.

SWAP SHOP SEASON ENDS ON DECEMBER 16

The Swap Shop will be closing on Saturday, December 16. On that day we will NOT take any large items or furniture. Other items may be dropped off in the morning and only with the approval of a Swap Shop volunteer.

We do not store most items for the winter to keep mice and other rodents from nesting in the building. Any Items that we cannot store for the winter will be delivered to Savers by volunteers or placed in household or bulky waste at the Transfer Station.

Please remember that there are many options for your reusable items throughout the winter. In Durham, you may want to donate clothing to Echo Thrift at the Community Church of Durham, the clothing shed at the Durham Evangelical Church, or Ecosmith bins located in front of the Middle School and at the Transfer Station. Books may be donated to the DiscoverBooks collection bin at the Transfer Station. Also, books in excellent condition are collected during the last full week of each month at the Durham Public Library. Savers, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other collection sites are some of choices for all items. 

The following websites are options, too, that allow you to shop, donate, or sell your reusable items.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ORPassitOn

https://www.facebook.com/groups/OysterRiverOnlineYardsale

Thanks so much for visiting the Swap Shop this season!

Mr. & Mrs. Santa visited Frost Fest in Durham last weekend. The Durham Fire Department coordinated transportation. Courtesy, Todd Selig

Americans toss out about 25% more garbage during the holidays. That includes food waste, wrapping paper, shopping bags, and more. The good news is that a few changes can reduce your eco footprint — and you don't have to do them all to make a difference.

Tips to have a greener holiday:

• Use reusable gift bags instead of wrapping paper. If you do buy wrapping paper, make sure it doesn't have metallics, foil or glitter.
• Use LED lights for your decorating to conserve energy and cut down on costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
• When purchasing string lights, look for a tag that says they're RoHS compliant. That means they'll contain the least amount of heavy metals which can become toxic over time.
• Buy eco-friendly gifts from local stores. If you buy gifts on-line, check out Etsy.com for eco-friendly gifts or click HERE eco-friendly gift ideas:

Sources: Sustainability Starts at Home by Dawn Gifford, Goodgoodgood.com

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee and Durham Public Library

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

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Click HERE.

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

Ridership is one of the critical metrics in measuring the success of the Amtrak Downeaster. The Pandemic was no friend to passenger rail in general and our Downeaster was no exception. However, FY 2023 bounced back with 516,723 riders, and in August of this year "America's Favorite Train" (yes, the Amtrak Downeaster) carried an all-time record of 61,769 riders! 

We are very fortunate in Durham and at UNH to be serviced by the Downeaster. Be sure to take advantage of this great Durham amenity! 

2024 RAYMOND A. LAROCHE SR. TRANSFER STATION AND RECYCLING CENTER PASSES AVAILABLE DECEMBER 18

Durham Public Works would like to remind residents that a yearly pass is required to access the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center at 100 Durham Point Road. 2024 passes will be available beginning on December 18th at the Durham Public Works main campus located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive or at the Durham Town Hall. This pass is free of charge and allows residents to dispose of municipal solid waste and recycling materials. The disposal of bulky waste and construction debris is not covered by this pass and requires separate coupons which are available for purchase at Durham Public Works or the Transfer Station.

Officer Sean Cassidy, of Watertown, MA, was sworn in as a Durham Police Officer on Monday, December 4, 2023. Officer Cassidy is a 2014 graduate of Brewster Academy and a 2018 graduate of Villanova University, with a degree in marketing. Officer Cassidy will start his formal 16-week police training in January as part of the 195th New Hampshire Police Academy class.  Please join us in welcoming Officer Cassidy to Durham! 

This week Deputy Chief Holmstock, Detective Bolton, Officer Robidas, and Officer Kaur participated in Somersworth Police Department's annual Shop With A Cop.

This year 35 children, chosen by the Somersworth School District, were paired with 35 officers from surrounding agencies to shop for the child’s family members. Each child rides in their officer’s police cruiser to Aroma Joe’s for hot chocolate and then over to the Somersworth Walmart to shop. After they shop, each officer and their child go to The Flanagan Center for a wrapping/pizza party.

Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event Somersworth PD!

Seacoast Area Firefighters, including members of the Durham Professional Firefighters Association, are busily preparing for the collection of donations to be distributed to families in need. Donations will be accepted up until December 15, 2023.

All donations are appreciated, and the areas of greatest need are: 

~ New, unwrapped toys (for ages newborn and up).

~ Gift cards.

~ Monetary donations. Please make checks payable to the Durham Professional Firefighter’s Association and include “Toy Bank” in the memo of your check. Checks may be mailed to the DPFFA at 51 College Road, Durham, NH 03824. 

Drop-off bins like the one above can be found at M&T Bank on Main Street, Hannaford in the Mill Plaza, Durham Town Hall, and the Durham Library. For your convenience you can also drop off donations directly at the Durham Fire Station at 51 College Rd in Durham. For community partners who may wish to host a donation box or to submit a request for assistance please click HERE or contact Firefighter Robert Rosselli of the Durham Fire Department by email Robert.rosselli@unh.edu or by phone (603) 868-5531 or (603) 862-1426.  

If you are on Facebook, you can click HERE for more information. Donations from the local drive will be distributed to needy families in the Oyster River School District with any remaining donations being sent to other communities that need assistance. 

Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity!

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 to teach your kids about Fire Safety, the more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #47

Smokey wants everyone to know, now that the colder weather is here, it's time to start thinking about the Fire Hydrants in your neighborhood.  

The ORCSD Transportation team will be collecting food and money donations for End 68 Hours of Hunger before the winter concerts taking place at the Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824) on December 12, 13, and 14. An ORCSD school bus will be parked near the school entrance and donations can be left in the school bus driver's care before the concerts.

Checks can be made payable to "End 68 Oyster River.".

ORCSD WINTER CONCERTS

December 12: Oyster River High School Orchestra Concert - For more information, click HERE.

December 13: Mast Way School Winter Concert - For more information, click HERE.

December 14: Oyster River Middle School Band Concert - For more information, click HERE.

December 18: Oyster River Middle School Chorus Concert - For more information, click HERE.

A young resident very excited to reach the top of the mountain! Courtesy Todd Selig

UPCOMING OYSTER RIVER SCHOOLS' CALENDAR

Friday, December 22: Early Dismissal for All Schools

On December 22 students will be served a lunch at school and buses will provide service to their usual routes.

• Oyster River Middle and High Schools 12:10 p.m.
• Mast Way and Moharimet Schools 12:35 p.m.

Winter Break December 25 through January 1. 

School will resume on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

Tuesday, January 23: Teacher Workshop Day