Friday Updates - February 7, 2025

Friday, February 7, 2025

Merrick Trail after a recent snow storm Courtesy, Todd Selig

Durham has many conservation parcels that provide not only important habitat, source water protection, and carbon sequestration, but also beautiful natural areas for personal reflection, recreation, and enjoyment. One such “urban” track is the Merrick parcel. In this case, the land remains privately owned but the Town holds a conservation easement that ensures the parcels remains in its natural condition and is available for public access and enjoyment in perpetuity. 

The Merrick trails have trailhead access points on Bagdad Road between Nobel K. Peterson Dr. and Canney Rd., and along Canney Rd. near the intersection with Dover Rd. 

Some images on the Merrick trails from this past weekend after the snowstorm are included in today’s Friday Updates.

The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX this Sunday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 PM. While Admin. Selig takes no sides in the upcoming game, he is impressed with the skill and athleticism of scrappy quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs line working to move the ball down the field again and again and again! Each play watching them reminds Mr. Selig of Team Durham -- working through challenging issues in local government -- dedicated members of the community and staff all pulling together.  Great work, Team Durham!

CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR DURHAM TOWN ELECTIVE POSITIONS and ORCSD ELECTIVE POSITIONS

The 2025 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the Oyster River High School, Multipurpose Room, Coe Drive, Durham, N.H. The polling hours are 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. 

The following are the open Town offices and the residents who have filed for those offices in red (as of 5 PM today):

• Three positions for Town Councilor (3-year term) - Joe Friedman, Eric J. Lund, Robin Vogt
• Three positions for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (3-year term) - Sudie Blanchard, Katharine Gatcomb, Elizabeth Newkirk
• One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (3-year term) - Alberto Manalo

The following are the open Oyster River School positions and the residents who have filed for those offices in red (as of 4:00 PM today):

• One Moderator (1-year term) - Michael Williams
• Two At-Large School Board positions (3-year term) - Sean Harrison, William Howard, Heather D. Smith, Nancy Smith
• One Lee School Board position (2-year term) - Renee Bennett

To learn more about the candidates running for Town office, please click HERE.

2024 YEAR END GROSS WAGES COMPILED FOR DURHAM

The 2024 year-end gross wages for Durham have been compiled and are posted on the town website HERE.

While the Town is under no obligation to do so, Administrator Selig believes it is important for the community to be able to easily understand what public employees and officials are paid by the municipality in a completely open manner. Business Manager Gail Jablonski therefore annually prepares the costs of full time, part-time, overtime wages, and other compensation-related payments.

GOOD PLANET APPAREL HAS OPENED AT 13 JENKINS COURT - A store rooted in sustainability.

If you are in need of new, funky clothes that are not only beautiful but also sustainable, look no further than Good Planet Apparel, one of Durham’s newest businesses. What began as a passion project in college, Owner, designer, and seamstress Molly Flagg took her passion and created this testament to sustainable fashion and environmental consciousness. Molly started creating sustainable fashion in her senior year of college while studying environmental economics (with a focus on sustainability) at the University of Rhode Island (URI). Even though she never imagined having a store of her own, she began getting involved in pop-up markets, where she showcased her secondhand and "upcycled" fashion. When the previous owners, Topanga Canyon, were planning on moving out, they offered up the space to her. Molly took a leap of faith and transformed it into what is now Good Planet Apparel. 

Good Planet Apparel operates on two key fronts: tailoring and alterations and secondhand shopping. By offering clothing repairs and alterations, the store encourages customers to extend the life of their garments instead of throwing them out. On the retail side, every item in the store – whether clothing, hangers, racks, or sewing supplies – is secondhand, reinforcing the store’s commitment to waste reduction. 

Molly has even taken steps to get the community more involved and aware of sustainable practices by hosting events with groups at the university, such as shopping nights with clubs and pop-ups with Greek life. She also makes it a point to educate the community when they walk through her doors, reminding them that everything in the store is upcycled, thrifted, or repaired. By offering fun, brand-new-looking secondhand clothes, the store proves that choosing sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Molly, 26 years old, hopes to continue promoting sustainable fashion and strengthening the store’s social media presence. 

For readers whose interest has peaked and are wondering how you can help contribute to sustainable fashion besides just purchasing it, Good Planet Apparel also takes donations. Consistent with Town sustainability goals, your Durham mission: take that bag of clothes which has been sitting in the back of your closet that you never wear and bring it over to the store to be upcycled and turned into something new.

This Sunday, Feb. 9th, from 12-4 pm, Molly will host a Clothing Swap, inviting people to bring a bag of freshly washed clothes to trade for new-to-them secondhand finds. Through its dedication to sustainability, community engagement, and ethical fashion, Good Planet Apparel is not just a store—it’s a movement toward a greener future. 

Website: https://goodplanetapparel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodplanetapparel/?hl=en

According to a report this week in The Portsmouth Herald, UNH projects $15 million to $20 million in budget cuts for the next fiscal year. Tuition increases are also planned for the 2025-26 academic year, ending a six-year freeze.

UNH officials cited a structural deficit, decreased state funding, and rising health insurance costs as reasons for the cuts.

No positions or programs have been identified for elimination yet, but college deans are reportedly being asked to file proposals naming jobs that could be cut for savings purposes, according to university President Elizabeth Chilton and Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration Aaron Howell.

Thursday’s announcement from Chilton and Howell marks the second winter in a row of steep budget cuts at the state’s flagship university.

In-state tuition, frozen for six years across USNH, set to increase

In-state tuition has been frozen at the same rate for six years at $15,520 a year, excluding room and board costs, according to UNH. The current out-of-state tuition rate is $36,170.

Last year, former President Dean indicated in-state tuition would be raised in the 2025-26 academic year, a plan confirmed by Chilton and Howell Thursday.

This past fall semester, there were 13,053 undergraduate students enrolled at the university’s Durham and Manchester campuses and online, an uptick from semesters prior but down almost 1,000 individuals from 13,991 students in the fall of 2017.

What is UNH's current operating budget?

The University of New Hampshire has an existing operating budget of $741 million. The predicted $15 million to $20 million budget reduction represents approximately 3.5% of the school’s existing general fund budget, not including grants and donations.

The college reduced $11 million from its budget last fiscal year as part of a surprise “budget reset,” a term used by then-UNH President James Dean. The University System of New Hampshire’s board of trustees approved the current fiscal year budget with a $5.2 million deficit.

Former UNH President James Dean announced in January 2024 that roughly 75 employees were being laid off amid an undergraduate enrollment drop from years past. Affected employees were given 45 days-notice.

Why are the budget cuts necessary? Here's what UNH is saying.

Chilton and Howell cited numerous challenges for the school in crafting the FY 2026 budget. They less funding from the state in its biennial budget to be approved later this year and health insurance costs are on the rise. As for enrollment, demographic declines regionally make UNH’s ability to maintain current enrollment levels uncertain.

USNH trustees are requiring UNH to have a 1% operating margin next fiscal year, according to Chilton and Howell.

To read the full Seacoast Online article, click HERE

UNH PRESIDENT WORKING GROUP FOLLOW-UP – A review of UNH policies, procedures, and guiding principles for supporting free speech and expressive activities on campus

This week, UNH President Elizabeth Chilton released the following:

"I am writing to provide an update on the actions we are taking in response to the report from the Working Group on Free Speech and Expression. As a reminder, I convened this working group last fall to review our policies, procedures, and guiding principles for supporting free speech and expressive activities on campus. While I asked for their review to include the events of May 1, my broader charge was to survey our policies and procedures regarding free speech and recommend ways that we can improve moving forward.

I am grateful to the working group: this was a challenging task, and they provided valuable suggestions for our consideration. It is important to note that the working group did not reach a consensus on all of their recommendations, and they do not speak for the university or for me. It is not my intent with this message to respond to each recommendation. Instead, I provide here an update on some of the overarching issues raised in their report, and summarize how the university is working to ensure that we support free speech and civic engagement, while maintaining campus safety and a culture of belonging where all can thrive.

Campus Event Permitting and University Policy Guidelines  

I have asked Vice President Kenneth Holmes and our Student Life team to conduct a review of university permitting processes and event policies. We would clearly benefit from a single, clear process, regardless of the applicant’s relationship to the university or venue requested, and one that brings all of the relevant departments together through a streamlined approval process. This will allow for clear communication about event policies and increased visibility into events occurring on our campuses. Our goal is to have a new process in place by the start of the 2025-26 academic year.

Another immediate priority is a review of the university’s Emergency Operations Plan. That work is underway, and we will communicate with an update by the beginning of the Fall semester.

I am also working with my leadership team to develop guidelines for all proposed policy changes with the campus community and ensuring appropriate opportunities for feedback from faculty, staff and student leaders. This is important work to ensure effective and strong shared governance.

The UNH Police Department

Shortly after the report’s release, I met with the Durham Town Administrator and Chief of Police to discuss the recommendations related to the UNH police department. We have maintained a long and successful partnership with the town on issues of public safety and policing. We mutually agree that sustaining this cooperation is in the best interests of the town and the university.

In that vein, we have committed to review the Memorandum of Understanding that governs this partnership to ensure that the role, authority, and responsibilities of the university president over the day-to-day operations of the UNH Police Department are clearly articulated. Further, under the direction of UNH Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, Aaron Howell, and interim-UNH Chief of Police Steve Lee, we are conducting a review of the relevant policies and trainings noted by the working group. While early indications indicate that the suggested training courses are comprehensively covered in programs required by the respective accrediting agencies, we will report out to the campus community any improvements moving forward.

Finally, the report calls on the Chief of the Durham Police to open a further investigation. The university president has direct authority over the operation of the UNH Police Department and has exercised that authority in practice over many decades. There is no evidence to suggest that the actions of the UNH Police on May 1 were illegal, and there is no basis for claims that our officers submitted false information to the county attorney or the courts. My experience with our Police Department since I arrived in July is that our officers and department leadership are committed to the safety and well-being of our students and this community, and they have my full confidence. Similarly, I do not believe further investigations related to the events surrounding May 1 will benefit the campus community; at this juncture we need to learn from the past as we seek to continually improve our campus culture and climate. Durham Town Administrator Todd Selig and Police Chief Rene Kelley are supportive of this approach.

Communications and Training Opportunities

The report suggested several actions related to communications and education related to the First Amendment. We will continue to post relevant policies and information on the university’s free speech website. I have asked Interim Provost Gruden to explore opportunities for the campus to engage in dialogue and educational opportunities, and we will share those moving forward.

At the University of New Hampshire, we believe that freedom of speech and free expression is fundamental to our identity as an educational institution. We strive to foster an inclusive community that promotes respect, intellectual growth, and the exploration of diverse perspectives. Over the last year, we have learned a great deal as a community about how to best uphold our values as an institution. I look forward to working with you to continue to make our campus stronger."

The 2024 Town Reports are now available in the Clerk's Office of the Town Hall and at the Durham Public Library. A digital, color copy can be found HERE. A "thank you" goes out to John Parsons for providing us with this year's cover - a beautiful fall photo of the General Sullivan Monument.

Our understanding of truth and trust have been upended by technological, social, and political forces. When traditional gatekeepers no longer control the flow of information, how can leaders prevail in advancing their message and promoting solutions? When the public has become fragmented by ideology and distracted by misinformation, how do we separate fact from fiction? And when public faith in institutions is at an all-time low, how do we restore trust?

These are the questions/topics Mr. Selig is learning about at Harvard this week as part of a two-week Executive Program course titled, Leadership in a Changing Media Landscape.

This online program, led by Nancy Gibbs, former Editor-in-Chief of TIME, is designed to help public and private sector professionals meet these challenges.

This is the third time Admin. Selig has attended Harvard Executive Education programming. In 2003, Todd Selig was awarded the Caroline Gross Fellowship allowing him to attend the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. He returned to the Kennedy School in 2013 to participate in curriculum focusing on negotiation and mediation entitled, Building Agreements Across Boundaries. 

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Syracuse University, Mr. Selig went on to complete a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of New Hampshire.

COUNCIL WRAPS UP ANNUAL EVALUATION FOR ADMINISTRATOR SELIG

On January 6, 2025, the Council began the process for conducting Administrator Selig’s annual performance evaluation. Councilors decided to continue with the same process used in recent years in which the Council utilizes a one-page evaluation form/matrix outlining key elements of importance and ranking the administrator’s performance (on a scale of 1 to 5) for each element, which includes five categories: 

• Ability to maintain or improve strong relationships;
• Financial oversight;
• Leadership;
• Initiative; and
• Other. 

Rankings included:  5=Excellent, 4=Very Good, 3=Good, 2=Acceptable, 1=Unacceptable.

Council members were provided the matrix via email in Microsoft Word format and were asked to return their responses electronically to Council Chair Sally Needell by January 15. Chair Needell compiled the responses and on Tuesday, January 28, Chair Needell and Vice Chair Friedman met with Administrator Selig to discuss the evaluation results.

Below is Mr. Selig’s average scores over the past fifteen years, including this year

YEAR SCORE

2010 - 4.3

2011 - 4.4

2012 - 4.5

2013 - 4.0

2014 - 4.3

2015 - 4.4

2016 - 4.5

2017 - 4.8

2018 - 4.6

2019 - 4.6

2020 - 4.8

2021 - 4.7

2022 - 4.9

2023 - 4.8

2024 - 4.4

To review Todd Selig’s annual evaluation, click HERE

On Friday January 31, 2025, the CPCNH Board of Directors voted to raise default supply rates.

The “Granite Basic” rate for residential and small commercial customers will move to 9.7 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up from the 8.9 cent rate the Board approved on January 2, 2025. The 8.9 cent rate will be in effect for February. The 9.7 rate will go into effect in early March through July 2025. CPCNH (and Durham Community Power by extension utilizing CPCNH rates) works to provide the lowest rates possible while covering costs and maintaining financial stability.

Why is CPCNH Adjusting Rates?

CPCNH has adjusted rates to ensure rates cover costs. CPCNH was negotiating a power purchase agreement with a local generator to meet a significant portion of our energy needs. This agreement did not come to fruition. CPCNH closed market hedges to manage its position and adjusted rates accordingly.

Competitive Rates and Savings Over Time

Since launching in early 2023, Community Power has introduced more competition and product options for nearly 200,000 electric customers in New Hampshire. Customers can easily choose from options including 33%, 50%, or 100% renewable energy on a month-to-month basis and can move between Community Power, utility supply options, and third-party providers.

From launch in April 2023 through July 2025, CPCNH’s Granite Basic will have averaged:

• 15.3% savings relative to Unitil’s supply rate
• 12.3% savings relative to Liberty’s supply rate
• 8.7% savings relative to Eversource’s supply rate
• Less than a percent difference from NH Electric Cooperative’s supply rate

CPCNH is pleased to have generated over $20 million in customer energy savings for New Hampshire.

Customers may make product elections by visiting www.CommunityPowerNH.gov, calling 1-866-603-7697, or by emailing info@CommunityPowerNH.gov. Additional rate options are available at: https://www.energy.nh.gov/engyapps/ceps/shop.aspx

This week a team from Plodzik and Sanderson, the Town’s external auditing firm, were at the Town Hall undertaking the pre-audit for all municipal financial operations. They’ll be back the coming months for the full audit. Staff in the Business Office have been working diligently to provide the external audit team with the information/reporting necessary for this process.

REGISTER TO VOTE PRIOR TO THE TOWN ELECTION

Supervisors of the Checklist will be holding a public session at the Town Hall (8 Newmarket Rd) for the purpose of registering new voters and accepting changes to name, address, and/or party on Saturday March 1, 2025, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM.

This will be the last chance to register to vote before the Town/School election on March 11 at Oyster River High School from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. You may also register to vote or make changes to your registration at the Town Hall any time the Clerk’s office is open (8:00 – 4:30 M-F) up until that date or at the polls on Election Day.

Applicants for registration must bring with them proofs of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Affidavits are no longer accepted. The list of proofs currently accepted is rather complicated. If you are unsure of what is necessary and what will be accepted, please call the Clerk’s office at 603-868-5577 or check the Secretary of State’s website https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/register-vote and click on the link Registering to Vote in New Hampshire.

A spider web of branches covered in snow with red berries peaking through. Courtesy, Todd Selig

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON SITE PLANS AND ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS

There are numerous public hearings coming up related to site plan applications and proposed zoning amendments.

Planning Board - Public Hearings on February 12

1) A preliminary review for Phase II of Riverwoods, to be located on the northerly side of Stone Quarry Drive. For more information, click HERE.

2) A review for façade improvements and site enhancements for the rear building at Mill Plaza. For more information, click HERE. 

Town Council - Public Hearings on February 17

1) a significant rewrite of the Definitions article in the Zoning Ordinance. For more information, click HERE.

2) minor changes in the purview of the Historic District Commission. For more information, click HERE.  

3) a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance regarding Student Rentals, the Three-Unrelated Rule, and Habitable Floor Area.  For more information, click HERE.

Trail Markers on Merrick Trail Courtesy, Todd Selig

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS MOVING FORWARD 

The ORCSD FY26 operating budget will be on the ballot Tuesday, March 11, 2025. A summary is available HERE.

School Superintendent Robert Shaps shared his FY26 public budget hearing PowerPoint presentation during the January 15 School Board meeting. The presentation is available on the district’s YouTube channel HERE. It starts at 2:50:50 in the recording. The PowerPoint document is available HERE.

This budget is anticipated to have a 2.65% increase, a rate comparable to the past 5 years in which the increase fluctuated between 2 and 4%. 

The major cost drivers for this budget are several expenditures related to:

• Health insurance for employees.
• IT updates to increase cyber security, device replacements, and software.
• Curriculum and professional development for competency-based programming.
• Transportation for the replacement and maintenance of buses and vans.
• Capital plan to cover an immediate need for roof and HVC repairs across the district.

On voting day, residents will also notice warrants on the ballot, such as the Teachers Guild agreement and Mast Way/Moharimet facilities expansion and renovations.

A summary of Warrant Articles #3-7 provided by the ORCSD is as follows:

• Warrant #3 is the operating budget for $58,002,091.
• Warrant #4 is the Teacher Guild agreement in the amount of $1,141,204.
• Warrant #5 is for the expansion and renovations at Moharimet and Mast Way in the amount of $530,922.
• Warrant #6 is funding toward solar panels in the amount of $125,000.
• Warrant #7 is funding toward the replacement of the high school turf field in the amount of $125,000.

One significant area of focus is the challenge of growing enrollment and currently available space. For this reason, ORCSD is presenting Warrant #5 requesting the appropriation of funds for fees related to architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil engineering services. 

Additional information about ORCSD capital planning initiative is available on the district's website HERE. 

The district will be hosting a community information session on February 19 at 6:00 p.m. in the Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School to provide information about the capital plan and Warrant #5. NOVO Studio architects will be there to answer questions.

As host to the University of New Hampshire, Durham has been included again, this time in the twelfth edition of the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index (MEI).  This week the Durham Human Rights Commission discussed the findings.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Americans. The MEI is the first nationwide evaluation of municipal laws, policies, and services affecting the LGBTQ community. 

The MEI examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.

HOW WERE THESE COMMUNITIES CHOSEN?

The towns/cities selected for rating are: the 50 state capitals, the 200 largest cities in the United States, the five largest cities or municipalities in each state, the cities home to the state’s two largest public universities (including undergraduate and graduate enrollment), 75 cities with high proportions of same-sex couples drawn from an analysis of the 2010 Census results by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law which ranked the 25 large cities (population exceeding 250,000), 25 mid-size cities (population between 100,000 and 250,000), and 25 small cities (population below 100,000) and 98 cities selected by HRC and Equality Federation state groups members and supporters in 2016.

In the past twelve years, Durham has received the highest score in NH of those communities surveyed. In 2024, Durham and Portsmouth had the top two scores for the state:

2024 NH MEI Scores:

• Concord - 69
• Derry - 46
• Dover - 77
• Durham - 93
• Keene - 72
• Manchester - 82
• Nashua - 72
• Plymouth - 32
• Portsmouth - 96
• Rochester – 51

Town staff and the Town's Human Rights Commission will continue to evaluate MEI criteria to consider whether it is possible to increase our score for future years. Durham had sought to be the top scoring community in NH twelve years ago, and we have to date succeeded every year since that time (with the exception of this year where Portsmouth and Durham were the top to communities), endeavoring to incrementally improve our openness and inclusiveness over time as appropriate. 

Learn more by clicking HERE. 

STRAFFORD REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION ASKING FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN SURVEY AS THEY UPDATE THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Strafford Regional Planning Commission has recently announced the start of Forward Thinking: A Comprehensive Plan for the Strafford Region, which is a project to update the region’s comprehensive plan.

A comprehensive or master plan reflects the values, priorities, needs, and aspirations of the residents, businesses, and communities in the region, and ensures their voices and perspectives act as the foundation to the plan. Topics covered in this comprehensive plan update include Land Use & Environment, Housing, Transportation, and Economic Development. This plan will act as a visionary framework for the Strafford region, which includes all of Strafford County, the towns of Brookfield and Wakefield in Carroll County, and the towns of Newmarket, Nottingham, and Northwood in Rockingham County.

Engagement, feedback, and input gathering are key to ensuring the plan reflects the needs and priorities of the region. The first component of our outreach is via a region-wide survey to gather input from residents, businesses, municipal leaders, service providers, and other stakeholders. Your help in taking this survey will be instrumental to making this outreach a success. The more voices we hear from in the survey, the more representative and informative the feedback will be.

To learn more about the Comprehensive Plan and to take the survey, click HERE.

The Friends of the Durham Library are having a membership drive from February 10-15. Membership is only $10 a year and the funds go towards the purchase of Museum passes, concerts, etc. To learn more and to sign up for a membership, please click HERE.

Trail Marker on Merrick Trail Courtesy, Todd Selig

Did You Know?  Battery Disposal #2

Battery disposal is tricky and requires care to eliminate the risk of fire and danger to the environment. Last week, we covered information about recycling rechargeable batteries. This week, we will cover other battery types. It is important to stress that rechargeable and button/coin batteries must be recycled.

What do I do with my batteries?

Staples stores offer free recycling for rechargeable and single use batteries.

Our transfer station in Durham will accept the following types of batteries for recycling (please give them to an attendant):

• Lithium-ion
• Button/Coin
• Lead-acid
• Silver Oxide
• Mercury
• Lithium Iron 
• Phosphate
• Nickel-Cadmium
• Nickel-Metal Hydride
• Lithium Polymer
• Zinc-Carbon

Note: Alkaline batteries (single use) are also accepted at the transfer station provided the terminals are taped, or each unit is individually bagged. ***These batteries are disposed of in the household trash container.

Household single use batteries

Household non-rechargeable single use alkaline and carbon zinc batteries (includes AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt batteries that are non-rechargeable) have a few safe options for disposal: 

• Bring to a local Staples to recycle at no charge. (Recommended) 
• Tape the ends and then throw into the regular trash.
• Pay to send in single use batteries for recycling through Call2Recycle.
• Tape or bag separately and bring to the transfer station for disposal in landfill trash.

Other battery types

For information on how to safely dispose of the many other types of batteries (including button cell and rechargeable), please refer to this quick and helpful video created by the Northeast Resource Recovery Association - HERE.

Source: The Northeast Resource Recovery Association 

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee 

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

Check us out on Instagram: sustainable.durham.nh

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Check here: https://recyclesmartma.org/

CIRCLE DANCE FRIDAYS AT COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DURHAM

Come learn dances from a multi-cultural folk dance background on Fridays, February 28, March 28, April 25, & May 23, from 6:00-7:30pm, at the Community Church of Durham, 17 Main St, Durham NH 03825.

The dances will be accessible to many ages, body types and experience levels. Steps taught at all dance sessions. No experience or partner needed. Cost: sliding scale of $5-25. For more info email dance@livinglandpermaculture.com

CARSEY POLICY HOUR - Immigration Policy: Choices and Implications for New Hampshire 

How will the Trump administration's recent actions on immigration affect New Hampshire? Join the Carsey Policy Hour on February 12, from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. online to hear the speaker Dr. Julia Gelatt, Associate Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute.

Dr. Gelatt will provide a framework for understanding the U.S. immigration system, including which responsibilities fall to the federal government, and which roles state and municipalities can play. She will highlight the policy choices states have on immigration topics – related to immigration enforcement, public benefits, inclusion of immigrants in the workforce, and other arenas – and describe how New Hampshire’s policies compare to those of other states. Finally, she will give an overview of some of the Trump administration's recent executive orders and subsequent policy changes and analyze their implications for New Hampshire agencies, service providers, and communities. 

To register for this online presentation, click HERE.

The Carsey Policy Hour is the monthly discussion series of UNH’s Carsey School of Public Policy, designed to engage policymakers, public service professionals, and active citizens and organizations in the issues and policies that affect the people and places of New Hampshire.

Ice Fishing off of Old Landing Courtesy, Bill Cote

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

All Oyster River schools will be closed February 24-28 for February Break.

2025 R.E.A.C.H. Summer Camps

ORCSD is collaborating again this year with the Town of Durham Parks & Recreation Department (DPR) to provide unique and engaging camp opportunities for Oyster River students between June 30 and August 1, 2025. R.E.A.C.H. Summer Camp's registration will open on Wednesday, February 19, at 7:00 a.m. Camp registration can be completed through DPR's RecDesk portal and will remain open through April 18 or until full. For a complete catalogue of all programs and to register, click HERE.

2025 Distinguished Service Award

On February 4, retired ORCSD Child Nutrition Director Doris Demers was recognized during the School Board's Annual Meeting Session I for her unwavering commitment and dedication to Oyster River students and families. Additional information is available HERE.

ORCSD Proposed Budget and Capital Planning

The ORCSD FY26 operating budget warrant articles will be on the ballot on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. A summary is available HERE and budget documents are available on the District website HERE. The District also created a Capital Planning webpage to provide additional information about capital plan initiatives which can be accessed HERE.

ORCSD Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration for the 2025-2026 school year will be open from January 28 to February 7, 2025. Registrations for all incoming kindergarten students will be accepted in person only during the daytime and evening sessions listed HERE. If you cannot come in person on these dates, you may complete registration forms at the SAU office between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. starting Monday, February 10.

February 8 Lunar New Year Community Day

10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Cafeteria at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). Snow date: February 15. 

February 11 ELO and CTE Info Night

6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Auditorium at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824).

February 12 Moharimet 3rd Grade World Music Festival

6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). Snow date: February 14.

February 19 Information Session

A community information session to provide details about ORCSD's capital plan and Warrant #5. NOVO Studio architects will be there to answer questions. The session is from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824).

March 11 - Annual Meeting Session II - Voting Day - Vote in Town of Residence

• Durham: Oyster River High School, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Lee: Lee Safety Complex, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Madbury: Madbury Town Hall, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

For over a century, the University of New Hampshire’s Theatre & Dance Department has educated and graduated generations of artists. This year, on the 101st Anniversary, they are celebrating the incredible students, alumni, artists, and educators that have sustained Theatre & Dance as a pillar of excellence at UNH.

On February 3, the Town Council approved a Resolution recognizing the 101st Anniversary of the UNH Theatre & Dance Program. You can see that Resolution HERE.

Enjoy a spectacular evening of performances and celebration on April 26, 2025, honoring the history of UNH Theatre & Dance. Alumni spanning nearly six decades are invited to take part in this milestone anniversary.

5:00 p.m. - Pre-Reception with refreshments, UNH Museum of Art

7:00 p.m. - Live performance, Johnson Theater

Pre-Reception & Performance Ticket: $50 (Limited capacity)

Performance only: $25

Can't make it to the show? Livestream from your home: $10

To Register, click HERE.

In spite of being cut from the Campus Services budget in January 2024, the UNH Cat Trax Bike Share program was sustained in 2024/25 thanks to partnership and support from the Town of Durham and the Student Activities Fee Committee, as well as program administration from the Sustainability Institute. Cat Trax garnered 530 members, 3,942 rides, and 3,925 miles ridden.

The program continues to grow in use and popularity, with a dedicated group of high-frequency users as well as more casual ones. It has been featured in UNH campus admissions tours to demonstrate the university’s sustainability leadership position, and the Sustainability Interns who lead the program have organized community bike rides, repair clinics, and an info-session at the Durham Public Library to promote wider community and campus use across Durham, both on campus and off.

Exciting news! The UNH Parent Council has provided a generous grant of $2700 that will play a crucial role in expanding the Cat Trax Bike Share program. With this funding, CAT TRAX will be able to support community events, engage both students and local residents, and offer bike repair clinics, all while promoting sustainability and active living.

A special thanks to Vic Whitcomb (’27, Wildlife Conservation and Biology and Sustainability dual major), one of the Sustainability Institute's Cat Trax Interns, whose dedication and hard work in completing the proposal made this possible.

It is exciting to see the program continue to grow and have an even greater impact within the collective UNH and Durham community!

So, when in Durham, check out a Cat Trax bike (for free!) to take a spin around town and campus! You can find instructions HERE.