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Punxsutawney Phil. AP Photo/Keith Srakocic
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This past Sunday was Groundhog Day. According to the legend: "If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring." That's how the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club describes the February 2 tradition, marking the midway point of winter. This year, Phil declared that he did NOT see his shadow, so hopefully we will experience an early spring!
And . . .
In the January 17, 2020 edition of "Friday Updates," the photographs used throughout the publication focused on the Oyster River High School's holiday concert that was performed on January 14th. Parts of the opening used for that "Friday Updates" were acquired from an article in the high school's student publication, the Mouth of the River. The student that wrote the article was inadvertently not credited, for which we sincerely apologize. The article was "Music Department Winter Concert" , published on January 13, 2020, and was written by Chase Amarosa. The full article can be viewed HERE.
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PRIMARY ELECTION - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH
A final reminder that the Primary Election will be held next Tuesday, February 11th. In Durham, the election will be held at the Oyster River High School. Polling hours will be from 7AM to 7PM.
View the Democratic and Republican Sample Ballots HERE.
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WE’RE NOT IN IOWA ANYMORE – Durham voters can be assured that our process has integrity and is secure.
We have a Presidential primary election in New Hampshire, not a caucus. The number of states that hold caucuses has been dwindling for years, in part at the encouragement of the Democratic National Committee to use a government-run primary. Kansas, Maine, and Hawaii are among the most recent states to opt for a primary system, which often allows more people to participate versus caucuses.
Caucuses tend to be dominated by the most motivated, engaged, and informed voters, who according to the New York Times also tend to be more ideologically consistent. The opportunity to participate is limited; voting usually occurs at a single time, rather than at any point during a day. The format also can burden voters in ways that deter participation: Caucuses can last for hours, and can require voters to publicly disclose their vote.
Tuesday’s Presidential primary in Durham is an actual election just like all the other elections that we have multiple times every election cycle. The method of voting, tabulating the vote, and reporting the results is the same as what we have done for many years. The system is time-tested and has been proven to work well.
Some additional points to consider for our process here in Durham:
- Durham’s voting machines are stored in a locked vault.Voting machines have seals on their input points and each time a seal is broken and then re-sealed, the election official must log each separate event, with two witnesses.
- Voting machine are re-tested before each election and regularly maintained.
- Voting is by paper ballots, The paper ballots are retained locally for any Federal office for 22 months before they can be destroyed. If a recount is done then ballots are stored in Concord.Numerous recounts performed by the NH Secretary of State’s Office have shown that the voting machines are reliable.Voting machines are NOT connected to the internet.
- Counting and tabulation at the end of the evening is done transparently, in public.Vote totals are posted and given out at the polling place at the end of the evening and given to local media.
- In Durham, we go to the extra step of broadcasting the results to the 3,200+ subscribers on our “Friday Updates” list server.
- Official results are also transmitted to the Secretary of State using a secure and time-tested system. Official results are posted on the Secretary of State’s website and Durham election officials and any voter can check what is posted against the website.
- All Durham election officials receive regular election training from the Offices of the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s and Attorney General. And all our election volunteers receive regular training from the election officials in Durham.Durham election officials and volunteers are dedicated to ensuring fair, efficient, and reliable elections.
It’s also worth noting that New Hampshire voters take their role in the Presidential primary seriously. It’s a badge of pride for many of us. Despite our state’s relative lack of diversity when compared to other parts of the country, the tradition of New Hampshire retail politics is critically important in engaging with candidates in small, intimate group settings where citizens can ask questions, obtain real answers, shake hands with candidates, and look into the eyes of individuals hoping to attain our nation’s highest office. The process allows Presidential candidates to be sized up on a human scale.
Without the invaluable vetting process we perform locally in New Hampshire for the many, many months leading up to the First-in-the-Nation Primary, the country would be wholly dependent upon big dollars, mass media marketing campaigns, and sound bites engineered by political consultants and high paid marketing firms. Would that approach represent an improvement?
Winston Churchill once said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. Like democracy itself, New Hampshire’s Primary system is perhaps not perfect, but it’s the best system we’ve been able to develop to date to keep candidates grounded in the needs of ordinary people like us.
Tuesday, February 11th, will actually be the 100th anniversary of the First-in-the-Nation NH Presidential Primary. We hope to see eligible Durham voters at the polls.
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HISTORICAL PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DATA FOR DURHAM – What will 2020 bring in terms of turnout?
During the last NH Presidential Primary February 9, 2016, there were a total of 4107* Democratic ballots cast and 1809* Republican ballots cast. In total, approx. 5916* ballots were cast in 2016, eclipsing the presidential primary results of the prior twelve years. The number of votes cast for the prior three presidential primaries were as follows:
1/27/2004 – 2776
1/8/2008 – 3734
1/10/2012 – 1773
Approximately 2100* same day registrations were processed over the course of the day on 2/9/16.
It will be interesting to see whether the number of votes cast in Durham continues to increase or plateau’s around what we experienced four years ago in town.
*Note, these were unofficial results announced after the close of the polls via the “Friday Updates” list server.
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FROM THE SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST - A note to prospective election volunteers & registering to vote at the polls on Tuesday.
Thank you to all of the people who have offered to help at the election. We are very sorry if some of you did not get contacted. We have all been quite busy with our specific jobs and some of you may have been lost in the cracks. In November we will need more people than we are using at this election, so hopefully you will be contacted then. If anyone should find you have an hour or so to kill after you vote, ask at the moderator’s table. There may be a few odd jobs that need doing.
If you are new to town and have not registered to vote yet, you can register at the polls (Oyster River High School. Please bring proofs of identity (photo ID), age (must be 18 by election day), citizenship (passport/passcard, birth certificate, naturalization papers), and domicile (driver’s license, lease, car registration, mail, etc.). If you do not have one or more of these, affidavits are available to sign under oath.
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The red lines outline the boundaries of a potential microgram project for Durham/UNH. Courtesy Eversource
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DURHAM-UNH COMMUNITY MICROGRID PROJECT - Latest developments.
As noted in the past, Eversource, UNH, and Durham are working together to explore whether it would be possible to create a community microgrid including the UNH campus and a portion of the infrastructure serving the Town of Durham, including the central business district and other other critical load. A microgrid would include new resources to augment existing generation and electrical infrastructure:
- Solar PV
- Battery energy storage (front of meter)
- Electrical infrastructure
- Communications infrastructureM4
- icrogrid controller software
The primary benefit of a microgrid for Durham and UNH is resiliency; the microgrid would provide additional options to serve critical loads in a storm event. That added resiliency provides economic and safety benefits for the community.
The project would also leverage the value of clean energy resources, aid in research of these technologies, and provide Evcersource with a potentially scalable model for the state and the New England region. Representatives from Eversource, UNH, the Durham Energy Committee, and Mr. Selig have been holding periodic ongoing meeting regarding this concept. At present, Eversource has engaged the services of a firm to help evaluate the feasibility of the endeavor.
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Durham, UNH, and Elliott Sidewalk Communities are working to collaboratively evaluate whether it is possible to bring a Public-Public-Private partnership to 66 Main Street, the former ATO Fraternity site, for a mixed-use development focusing on UNH graduate housing above with non-residential below.. Courtesy Todd Selig
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DURHAM/UNH TEAM TRAVEL TO MARYLAND TO MEET WITH ELLIOT SIDEWALK COMMUNITIES REGARDING POTENTIAL PUBLIC-PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AT 66 MAIN STREET SITE
Economic Development Director Christine Soutter and Admin. Selig, along with representatives from UNH/USNH, attended a meeting in Maryland with Elliott Sidewalk Communities on Thursday/Friday, January 30-31st to discuss the potential redevelopment of the University-owned 66 Main Street property along Durham’s Main Street.
In attendance were: Todd Selig-Town of Durham; Christine Soutter-Town of Durham; James Dean-UNH President; Christopher Clement-UNH COO and VP of Administration; Catherine Provencher-USNH Vice Provost for Finance & UNH Interim CFO; Ronald Rodgers-USNH General Counsel and Secretary; Tim Elliott-Elliott Sidewalk Co-Managing Partner; Brian Rogers-Elliott Sidewalk Co-Managing Partner; Jim Flannery-Elliott Sidewalk Partner; John Black- Mackenzie Capital President; and Brendan Harman-Mackenzie Capital Vice-President.
The NH team arrived Thursday afternoon, January 30, 2020, in Hunt Valley, MD and met with the Elliott Sidewalk (ES) team and Mackenzie Capital representatives. Friday morning, January 31, 2020, the group reconvened at 8:00 AM sharp to hear about and discuss the experience of ES over the last 24 months in working with UNH/USNH/Durham relative to the potential redevelopment of the 66 Main Street and Hetzel/Alexander sites. After devoting time and discussion on past process and experiences and potential steps looking to the future, the ES team provided a possible revised concept for 66 Main Street and all parties discussed the opportunity for a public-public-private partnership between ES, UNH, and the Town to bring the project to fruition. All three groups discussed their core objectives for the site. At this time, the Hetzel/Alexander hotel project is off the table and may or may not be revisited depending upon whether goals at 66 Main Street can be realized, as well as other factors.
Over the course of a six-hour intense discussion that involved a working lunch with sandwiches the group discussed the assets and constraints that each party brings to the table and examined ways to work together to bring a vibrant, multi-use project to downtown that would benefit Durham, UNH, and ES alike.
For ES, some of the significant challenges to a successful project include:
- Escalating cost of removing the significant ledge present on the 66 Main St. site to create underground parking or even to simply develop on grade along Main Street;
- Risk involved with restricting housing to graduate students only (a desire of the developer, UNH, and Durham);
- Ability to offer below market rate housing for graduate students while staying within the density requirements set forth by the Town, which limit density a project such as this focusing on graduate students (or non-undergraduates) would need to carry to be economically viable;
- Filling a large amount of commercial space (within an untested market) required by Durham's local zoning.
- High cost of development in conjunction with a significant property tax burden in Durham.
After discussion and a review of ES’s modified concept the parties agreed to evaluate party-specific issues/needs/opportunities and circle back in the coming weeks for further conversations.
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WORKSHOPS
The Small Business Administration(SBA) regularly offers online and in-person workshops around the State. Through the SBA, and their umbrella organizations which include: SCORE, the Center for Women and Enterprise and the Small Business Development Center, the Federal organization provides education and support to small and emerging businesses across the country. Many of their programs are free or low cost. This month they are offering workshops covering everything from marketing, Opportunity Zones and crafting your "elevator pitch" for investors.
View the SBA's upcoming opportunities HERE.
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Donna Glodziak and Deputy Chief Rene Kelley Courtesy Craig Stevens, DCAT Studios
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HELP BUILD A NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ON THE MERRICK EASEMENT
Tom and Mary Merrick conveyed a conservation easement on their 23-acre property to the Town of Durham in 2006. The Merrick family continues to own and manage their property, while the easement protects their land in perpetuity from further development. A network of public trails connects the entrance off Bagdad Road, near the Oyster River High School, with an entrance and small parking area off Canney Road, close to the new Riverwoods complex. The trail entrance off Bagdad Road runs through a wet section of the property and despite several attempts to cross this wet section with wood bridges or stepping stones in the past, they have not lasted. Our plan is to build a solid, decked bridge that would allow water to flow underneath and cross the wet, muddy stretch of trail. Our goal is to raise $2,500 for the cost of materials by May 1, 2020 so that we can complete the project with volunteers by September 1st. You can read more about the project HERE and find a pledge form HERE.
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2019 YEAR END GROSS WAGES COMPILED FOR DURHAM
We have compiled and uploaded the 2019 year end gross wages for Durham on our web site as we do every year. This information can be accessed at: https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/administration/employee-gross-earnings
Business Manager Gail Jablonski has prepared a brief comparison review for personnel costs, full time, part-time, and overtime wages by functional area that can be viewed HERE. This year we don’t see any trend or significant change which would cause the Town concern. We knew early on that overtime was running high at the Fire Department to cover full time vacancies due to injury, illness, etc. for some extended periods. 2019 was pretty much business as usual with wage expenditures coming in consistent with our expectations as part of the budgeting process for 2019, which took place back in 2018.
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ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEMBERS NEEDED
The Durham Town Council is seeking interested residents of the Town of Durham who have the ability, desire, and time needed to fill three vacancies on the Zoning Board of Adjustment: One (1) regular member vacancy and two (2) alternate member vacancies.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment, a quasi-judicial board, has the duty to hear and decide appeals in the enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance. The duties of the Zoning Board of Adjustment are outlined fully in RSA 674:33 and 674:33(a). The four categories of hearings that are brought before the Zoning Board of Adjustment are special exceptions, equitable waivers of dimensional requirements, appeals on an administrative decision and variances.
The Zoning Board meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7PM in the Council chambers at Town Hall.
Applications are available on the home page of the Town’s web site, at the top of the home page under “Helpful Resources”, then “Town Documents”, then “forms and applications”, then “Application for Appointment”.
Further questions regarding the Zoning Board may be addressed to Zoning Administrator Audrey Cline at 603-868-8064 or via email mailto:acline@ci.durham.nh.us
Completed applications may be mailed to the Administrator’s office, or submitted via email mailto:jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
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Cover of the 2019 Annual Town Report, "The Durham Town Landing". Photo courtesy Bernie Casey
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PRINTED VERSION OF 2019 DURHAM ANNUAL REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
The printed version of the 2018 Town of Durham Annual Report is ready to be picked up by interested residents/taxpayers at the Town Clerk-Tax Collector's Office. Copies will also available at the Durham Public Library. The report will also be posted on the Town website in the near future.
Kudos are extended to Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry for her outstanding work in pulling this important historical document together for the community!
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Donna Glodziak receives a department photograph from SRO Thomas Kilroy Courtesy Craig Stevens, DCAT.
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EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO UPDATE DURHAM’S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN AND CREATE A NEW CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN FOR COMMUNITY
The Town had applied for and received a grant from the NH Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in the amount of $10,500 to update our existing Emergency Operations Plan. Plans are to be updated approx. every 5 years. In addition, we are working to create a new document, a Continuity of Operations Plan, which would be of tremendous assistance in the event one of the Town’s major facilities unexpectedly became inoperable. In essence, we’ll think through scenarios and potential responses in advance to keep essential local government functions operating. Members of the Town’s various departments, representatives from the Oyster River Cooperative School District, UNH, and Town Councilor Andrew Corrow spent three hours on January 21st with our external consultants from Mapping and Planning Solutions (MAPS) to assist us in this endeavor. This was the first in potentially 6, 3-hour sessions.
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HAPPENINGS AT DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION...
Churchill Rink:
The rink had a strong 2019 season (Jan-March/ Oct-Dec). Final revenue #¹s for the rink are not yet in, but all signs indicate revenue is up from 2018. Looks like we will be adding 50K+ to the rink¹s special revenue fund.
Public skate sessions have been up
-Milder weather
-Season passes sales are up
-Fun Skate has gained a lot of popularity on Saturdays in 2019, and another session of Fun Skate has been added to Friday Nights
-Revenue from skate rentals is up considerably (new rentals purchased last season)
Slush Cup Pond Hockey Tournament doubled in size to 48 teams (tournament played in one dayŠthat¹s a lot of hockey!)
We have approval to acquire the dasher boards and glass from UNH. We will be using 21K from the rinks special revenue fund to pay for the cost of the removal of the boards and glass at the Whitt. Their renovation is scheduled to begin in April.
General Parks & Recreation Items:
The P&R Committee hasn¹t met since Nov. 2019 It will plans to meet Feb. 18th with the Community Survey being the agenda focus.
Final 2019 revenue #’s are not yet reported, but all signs indicate the department had its strongest year to date in department revenue.
P&R is off to a very busy 2020! After school programs (for elementary and middle school students) are running daily with solid attendance in most programs. We have programs scheduled through the end of the school year. Programs being offered winter/spring 2020 include: Off The Beaten Path, Horseback Riding, Archery, Brixology, Secret Agent Lab, Backcountry Cooking, Medieval Wilderness, Magic Class, Art and Nature, Kayaking & Paddle Boarding, Backcountry Snow Sports, Hip Hop Dance Backcountry Survival, Outdoor Adventures, Climbing Club, and Mountain Biking.
A variety of adult programs and trips being offered to Durham community:
Trips include: Peabody Essex Museum- We went in January and had a great trip, NH State House & Historical Society Tour (Feb 19), Boston Symphony & Museum of Fine Arts (March 5), Botanical Gardens in Maine (May 13th).
Adult classes include: Knitting class, yoga, dance exercise, tai chi, strength & stretch, Zumba, bootcamp, pilates, karate, and Pickleball
We had a full van for the January Teacher Workshop Day and have another full van for the Feb. 11 Teacher Workshop Day.
We have a drop in activities planned for Feb. vacation and a full week of camp planned for April vacation week.
Summer camp planning is underway and registration is open for DPR summer camps, with the exception of camp REACH registration.
P&R Director Rachel Gasowski has been working with Land Stewardship Coordinator Ellen Snyder and Oyster River Cycle & Sport on a monthly outings to various trails and properties. The group is still trying to finalize the details but have a variety outings planned Feb-Sept at this point.
Upcoming Events:
Family Sweetheart Dance- Feb 14
Slush Cup Pond Hockey Tournament- March 14
Annual Egg Hunt- April 11
Memorial Day Parade- May 25
The department is planning on a handful of summer events too:
Family Camp Out, Family Theater Night, WHF Concert By the Bay, Music on Main, Summer Splash
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DURHAM’S NEW HOUSING COMMITTEE - A subcommittee of the EDC seeks members.
The Town of Durham’s Economic Development Committee has created a subcommittee to study housing affordability, diversity, and supply and ensure Durham’s future housing needs are met. As Durham is part of a greater region facing a housing crisis, the EDC wanted to explore and analyze Durham’s current housing stock and future housing needs. Durham’s new Housing Committee is modeled after Exeter’s Housing Advisory Committee (learn more about that HERE. Like Exeter’s committee, the Durham committee will inform town leaders serving on Town Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board, and other town boards and committees, as a valuable resource. The new Housing Committee, which will function as a subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee. It will spend 2020 collecting data, drafting a report to town leaders, and crafting recommendations for steps forward.
If you're interested in joining the committee and being part of this process, please complete an application today by clicking HERE.
Link to the overview of the new Housing Subcommittee on the Celebrate Durham web site by clicking HERE.
View the charge of the new Housing Subcommittee by clicking HERE.
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ANNUAL PARKING REPORT COMPLETED
Chief Kurz has completed the annual parking report that provides Admin. Selig with an update of the status of vehicle parking within the Town of Durham.
The data allows for a variety of measurements that highlights progress, or lack thereof, of initiatives previously suggested and implemented while monitoring cost centers and revenue generated from parking in Durham. The goal of the parking program focuses on monitoring parking in the downtown area and was never designed to generate revenue for the Town. However, there are cost centers that must compensate for the expenses of the maintenance of the pay and display kiosks, personnel salary needed to monitor illegal parking as well as the personnel to address the administrative tasks of violation collection and financial management of the entire system.
The report addresses all of these areas and can be viewed HERE.
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DURHAM POLICE COMPLETE 2019 ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES TO RESISTANCE - Over the course of 10,213 calls for service in 2019, officers used physical force less than .002% of the time, a statistic that has remained comparative and stable from previous years.
One of the most important reports that the Durham Police produce annually is a report that analyzes all incidents where officers of the department utilized some level of force, or a “response to resistance” upon persons who are being arrested by department personnel and resisted the officer. By policy of the department, each time an officer uses any amount of physical force greater than the simple application of handcuffs to safely bring a suspect into custody, the officer must complete a “Response to Resistance Report”. This includes removing their handgun from the holster or removing their Taser from its holster even if not fired or activated.
Chief Kurz has assigned Captain David Holmstock with the task of analyzing each of these individual reports to determine if there were any policy violations, if any one officer is resorting to the use of force more than others and importantly to ensure that department is deserving of the trust given to the police by the community. As Chief Kurz points out, police authority, which includes the use of lethal and non-lethal force, is given to the police department by the community through the Town Council and the Town Code. “The trust given to the Durham Police Department to conduct our mission in a responsible manner is a major obligation that we do not take for granted! Transparency as we review our employee’s conduct is an important attribute of warranting continuation of that trust.”
Captain Holmstock’s analysis found the following:
“The Durham Police Department responded to approximately 10,213 calls for service in 2019. Of those calls, Durham Police Officers responded to 17 incidents where resistance was displayed by offenders. In essence, Durham Police Officers used physical force less than .002% of the time when responding to calls for service, a statistic that has remained comparative and stable from previous years. The evidence helps confirm that Durham Police Officers value patience and professionalism in the performance of their duties, as well as continuing the practice and principles of “conflict resolution” before resorting to the necessity of engaging force to affect an arrest or overcome active resistance by the offender.”
View the complete report by Captain Holmstock HERE.
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Chief Kurz presents Sergeant Daniel Brooks with a Meritorious Police Service Award. Courtesy Craig Stevens, DCAT.
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LEE TRAFFIC CIRCLE WATER LINE STATUS UPDATE – A project that will extend the Durham/UNH water system to the Lee Traffic Circle to bring potable water to MBTE contaminated properties.
A brief update on the Lee Traffic Circle Waterline project since it has been a while since we have communicated on the progress of the work. The final design phase began in December 2019. Below is a summary of work completed to date and a list of key milestones going forward:
Work Completed to Date – Final Design Phase:6
- Permanent Easements Secured, 3 Permanent Easements pending final review
- NHDES Wetland Permit Application (DRAFT) and Coordination Meeting
- NHDOT District 6 Design Review – Submitted 1/29/20
Schedule Milestones:
- NHDOT Approvals – Spring 2020
- NHDES Wetlands Summer 2020
- Final Design and Bid Documents – Fall 2020
- Bidding – December 2020C4
- Construction Notice to Proceed – Spring 2021
- Construction Substantial Completion – September 2021
For reference, a copy of the NHDOT submittal is provided in the following link: http://gofile.me/2RfIJ/AgoSGcR0q. Note that only the Route 4 alignment has changed since the preliminary design submission in May 2019.
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LAND STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR ELLEN SNYDER WORKS WITH SRPC AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO DEVELOP STANDARDIZED TRAIL MAPS FOR DURHAM’S CONSERVATION AREAS
The Town is finalizing an agreement between Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) and the Town whereby SRPC will provide professional mapping and planning services to create standardized trail maps for the Town’s conservation areas for the Durham Conservation Commission utilizing funds in the Town’s Conservation Fund. The general scope of services is as follows:
Task 1: Create Geodatabase and Map Layout ($540.00)
- Set up geodatabase to include Town of Durham’s GIS data (trail locations and other points of interest),
- Develop base map, map layout/template, symbology, unique icons, labeling, etc.
Task 2: Produce Eight Individual Maps ($480.00)
- Re-center the base map template to the extent of each trail, which will include: the Oyster River Forest/Spruce Hole Bog; Doe Farm; Thompson Forest; Wagon Hill Farm; Jackson Landing; Stevens Woods (formerly Orchard Woods, which Durham recently purchased from the ORCSD utilizing privately raised donations); Longmarsh Preserve; and Oyster River Greenway: Town Landing, Mill Pond Park, Milne Nature Sanctuary, and the Meadows.
Task 3: Project Administration, Meetings, Revisions, and Final Maps ($980.00)
- Kickoff meeting with Land Stewardship Coordinator and Durham Conservation Commission
- Incorporate any feedback and suggested revisions.
- Produce two final map sets; the first will be 8.5 x 11, and the second with be 36 x 36. Both map sets will be converted to PDFs so they can be sent electronically and uploaded to the Town’s website. The large-scale maps can be printed upon request.
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JOIN US FOR A WINTER TRAIL TROMP - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 10 AM – 1 PM
Join Oyster River Cycle & Sport, Durham Parks & Recreation, and local civic groups and businesses for a Winter Trail Tromp, Saturday, February 8th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A Winter Trail Tromp is a way to get outside and explore--at your own pace and by your preferred means: walk, ski, run, snowshoe, or bike--four amazing Town conservation areas and earn great deals from participating businesses. Volunteers will be stationed at the four sites—Spruce Hole Bog, Doe Farm, Stevens Woods, and Thompson Forest—to greet participants and stamp a passport. Then, visit participating downtown businesses with your passport to collect your reward. This is a family-friendly event! Before you head out on Saturday, pick up passports and map at one of the following participating downtown Durham businesses: Oyster River Cycle and Sport, Young's Restaurant, The Big Bean Cafe, Hayden Sports, and Sweetened Memories. For more information contact Brian Keegan at mailto:info@oysterrivercycle.com or Ellen Snyder at mailto:ellensnyder1@gmail.com.
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McGREGOR EMS HAS REWORKED VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE TO LOCAL AREA RESIDENTS
McGregor Memorial EMS is always looking to capitalize on the energy and life experiences of area residents for volunteering and service to the community. Recently, McGregor volunteers completed a review of the organization's volunteer requirements and determined that its expectations may have exceeded the availability of local permanent residents.
As a result, volunteers completed a thorough reworking of McGregor's requirements to make volunteering at McGregor more attainable for permanent residents without compromising on the quality of the training and service provided.
Community volunteers interested in getting involved are encouraged to reach out at mailto:volunteer@mcgregorems.org or (603) 862-3674. We are excited to hear from you!
EMT courses are available through McGregor for those looking to challenge themselves with a new skill and expand opportunities to give back to the community. Visit www.mcgregorems.org for more information, or email mailto:volunteer@mcgregorems.org.
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SCHOOL BOARD NEWS
The annual Deliberative Session was held Tuesday, February 4. After a community supper and concert, voters had the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and potentially change the items that will be voted on again on March 10. No changes were made to the items for the proposed middle school building, 2020-2021 operating budget, or teachers' guild contract. All of these will be on the ballot for final votes at the March 10 local election.
Jesse Morrell was recognized as school district volunteer of the year for tireless support of many programs and particularly athletics! Thank you and congratulations, Jesse!
Instead of Candidates' Night (originally scheduled for Feb 18), school board candidates will record videos to be posted online before the March 10 election. You can suggest questions or topics to be addressed to the Superintendent,mailto: jmorse@orcsd.org
Schools will be closed for a teacher workday on Tuesday, February 11 due to the New Hampshire Presidential Primary. Mast Way school and the High School will be polling places.
A survey on middle school grading practices including competency-based grading is being developed in cooperation with the UNH Survey Center. We expect it to be conducted in mid/late March.
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IF YOU ENCOUNTER A COYOTE WHILE WALKING YOUR DOG, WHAT THEN?
With the recent reports of coyote activity in the area (an man in Exeter recently strangled a rabid coyote that attacked his family in the woods there), we thought it made sense to include some information for community members regarding this topic.
It is possible for residents to see coyotes or have interactions with them while out walking their dog. According to the Urban Coyote Initiative, coyotes are rarely interested in humans, but add a dog to the mix and their interest is piqued. Larger dogs may be viewed as competition or threat, while smaller dogs may be viewed as potential prey.
Four Basic Rules for Walking Dogs in Coyote Territory
- Keep your dog on a 6-foot leash.
- Avoid areas known to have coyote activity, especially during breeding and pupping season.
- Stick to trails and open paths, and avoid areas with thick brush.
- Avoid walking your dog at sunrise and sunset hours.
What to do if You and Your Dog Encounter a Coyote
- Leash your dog.
- Stand tall and assertive.
- Haze the coyote until it leaves the area.
- Report overly brazen coyotes.
The Urban Coyote Initiative creates exceptional photos and films documenting the stories and science of urban coyotes across North America. You can learn more by clicking HERE.
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2020 AGE OF CHAMPIONS HEALTH FAIR OPEN TO DURHAM COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Members of the Durham community can head over to UNH and take in the Age of Champions Health and Wellness Fair from 10 AM to 1 PM on April 26, 2020, in the Lundholm Gymnasium at UNH. This free community event celebrates healthy aging across the lifespan. Their motto is “It’s never too soon to age well!” Come and enjoy a day of fun and facts about how to get and stay well as we grow older. There will be free demonstrations, a pickle ball tournament, Car Fit (get seated safely in your vehicle), a cycling clinic led by Northeast Passage, and multiple vendor tables where participants can engage with knowledgeable experts in a host of areas including mental well-being, physical well-being and creative well-being. There is something for all ages at the Fair. Bring the whole family out for a day of healthy living.
Age of Champions is an annual FREE health fair hosted by the Center on Aging and Community Living that endeavors to raise awareness of and promote healthy aging from a holistic perspective. This is an interactive event with assessments, raffles, demonstrations, and movement exercises. There are several information and resource tables from local and state organizations at the health fair for people to visit.
For more information, contact Bridget Drake at mailto:Bridget.Drake@unh.edu or visit the Center on Aging and Community Living website HERE.
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UPCOMING 2020 COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT PLAN PUBLIC DISCUSSION INPUT SESSIONS FOR THE GREAT BAY ESTUARY HOSTED BY PREP
The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) is updating the region’s Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan – a guiding document that addresses current and emerging issues impacting the water quality and environmental health of our estuaries – Great Bay and Hampton-Seabrook. PREP invites members of the public to join them for one of two open house sessions in February for discussions of how PREP is working to preserve, protect, and enhance our estuaries. Interested in reviewing the document and providing comment? Please visit: https://prepestuaries.org/ccmp-public-comment-period-open-dec-23-mar-13/
Sessions are free and light refreshments will be provided.
- Feb 10, 2020 5:00-7:00 PM, Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center 89 Depot Road, Greenland, NH
- Feb 13, 2020 6:00-8:00 PM, St. James Masonic Lodge 77 Tide Mill Road, Hampton, NH
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ALZHEIMER'S/DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP AVAILABLE
Please join Meghan Wentworth, Memory Care Manager, and Officer Holly Malasky, of the Durham Police Department, for an Alzheimer’s/Dementia Caregiver Support Group. The group takes place every second Wednesday of the Month, from 6pm to 7:30pm, in the UNH Room at Brookdale Spruce Wood. Our caregiver support group creates a safe, confidential, and supportive environment. It gives a chance for participants to develop informal mutual support and social relationships. It also educates and informs participants about dementia and helps participants develop methods and skills to solve problems. This group encourages caregivers to maintain their own personal, physical, and emotional health as well as optimally care for the persons with dementia. For more information and to register please contact Meghan at mailto:meghan.wentworth@brookdale.com or by telephone at 603-841-6068.
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Mr. & Mrs. Michael Nicolosi
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WEDDINGS GALORE AT DURHAM POLICE
Officer Michael Nicolosi married Shannon Griffin last June at the Lake Shore Village Resort in Weare, NH. In special recognition of the absence of Shannon’s sister Courtney who recently passed away, Plumeria, a special flower to Courtney, were flown in from Hawaii.
Michael was recently assigned to be the School Resource Officer at the Oyster River Schools. Shannon, a graduate of UNH, has owned and operated “The Green Griffin Flower Shop” in Kingston, NH for the past 10 years. Michael and Shannon recently rescued a 3-month old puppy after their wedding and are currently planning their honeymoon to Costa Rica. Congrats to Michael and Shannon on their nuptials!
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IF YOU SEE SOMETHING WRONG, ODD, OR NOT QUITE RIGHT LOCALLY, PLEASE CALL THE DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (603) 868-2324
The very essence of community policing is that the community and the police work together to confront crime and the fear of crime. The vast majority of Durham residents understand that the police cannot be everywhere simultaneously to observe criminal or suspicious activity as it occurs and the department finds it difficult to patrol residential areas with the frequency residents, businesses and the police prefer. So Chief Kurz urges you to contact the police at 868-2324 or 911 if you see, hear or sense something is not quite right. An officer will respond quickly and resolve what may or may not be a criminal activity. When law enforcement works directly with residents and businesses we collectively are going a long way toward reducing crime, improving quality of life, and enhancing public safety.
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TOWN OF DURHAM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ACCOUNTS
Did you know that the Town has a Facebook & Twitter account and frequently posts Durham & UNH news, happenings, and articles of interest in our area and the seacoast?
Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
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Durham Parks and Recreation, its Director and Committee, strive to offer a wide range of quality programs, parks, and facilities that encourage all community members to participate in healthy, fun, and enriching activities. Together, they celebrate the essential role public recreation plays in fostering a cohesive and vibrant community.
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DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY UPCOMING EVENTS
New to DPL
Check Out Universal Class! Free with your library card
Looking for business, education, computer, crafting, accounting or even dog training courses? Universal Class offers 500 online CE classes and they are all available now FREE from DPL with your library card! These courses are not tutorials; they are accredited courses and include lessons, exams, assignments, discussion boards and assessments of your progress. Earn a certificate documenting your CEUs, contact hours, and course completion. All courses are self-paced. You do not need to be online at a specific date or time and each patron can take up to 5 courses at once. Click on the Universal Class icon now to browse courses and get started!
Monday February 10th, 7:00 pm -8:00 pm
Mindful Meditation with Jiong Jiong Hu,
This month's focus:When things fall apart
Each session invites you to tune inward, explore the secret power of self-care and healing through gentle inquiry, mindful breathing and reflection. This opportunity provides time and space for you to learn tools to calm and balance your body and mind in midst of life's challenges.No registration required! All are welcome!
Monday, February 10th, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
YA Night, This month:Harry Potter Trivia & More!
For grades 5 & up. Join us for a new monthly YA group.
Pizza will be served.
Tuesday, February 11th, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Family Fun Night This month: Fort Building in the Library
Join us for a fun monthly program for kids in grades K-5 and their families! We will provide a different activity each month for families to do together. All are welcome.
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*Academic year commences the third week of August through graduation at UNH in May.
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HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL - A Brief History of Durham, NH 1600 - 1976 (A little volume that was the Heritage Project of the Durham Historic Association Bicentennial celebration)
Preface - "Since before God made the first little green apples, oysters have probably been growin in the Oyster River; and some of the largest and juiciest to be found anywhere in the world are still growing here today. The following vignettes from rollicking history of Durham town on the Oyster River are therefore presented between the shells of an oyster."
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1961 - The selectmen offered the vacant Town Hall to the Durham Historic Association for a museum. Durham artifacts now crowd the room and it attracts visitors from far and near when open in July and August. The Hall also serves as a meeting place for the DHA and other groups.
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Chief Kurz also presents Officer Thomas Kilroy with a Meritorious Police Service Award. Courtesy Craig Stevens, DCAT.
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Will Punxsutawney Phil prove to be correct that spring will come early in 2020? The answer to that question may just be more complex than predicting the outcome of Tuesday’s upcoming NH Presidential Primary election!
Have a very nice weekend.
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Todd
Todd I. Selig, Administrator
Town of Durham, NH
a: 8 Newmarket Rd., Durham, NH 03824 USA
t: 603.868.5571 | w: www.ci.durham.nh.us
He/him/his pronouns
Everyone can tackle climate change. How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
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