Friday Updates - January 10th, 2020

Friday, January 10, 2020

 DPW plowing Wednesday evening following snow squalls in Durham. Courtesy Todd Selig

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Although the region experienced snow squalls and cold temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday, we are likely to experience temperatures in the high 50's this weekend!

FILING PERIOD FOR ELECTIVE OFFICES COMING UP AT THE END OF JANUARY

The Town and ORCSD elections will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at the Oyster River High School. Polling hours will be from 7AM to 7PM.

The filing period for local elective offices in the Town of Durham is January 22, 2020 through January 31, 2010 at 5PM. 

The following positions are open during this election cycle: 

Durham Town Council: Three (3) positions with 3-year terms

Library Board of Trustees: Two (2) positions with 3-year terms

Moderator: One (1) position with 2-year term

Supervisor of the Checklist: One (1) position with 6-year term and one (1) position with 4-year term

Town Clerk-Tax Collector: One (1) position with 3-year term

Town Treasurer: One (1) position with 3-year term

Trustee of the Trust Funds: One (1) position with 3-year term

TOWN COUNCIL GOALS UPDATE - QUARTERLY REPORT AS OF DEC. 31ST.  

Administrator Selig has provided the Town Council with a progress report on quarterly goals as of 12/31/19. View the updated goals HERE.

Sign for Dover road hardpipe project. Courtesy Todd Selig

DOVER ROAD FORCE MAIN PROJECT UPDATE

The Town recently began construction of the new Dover Road Force Main Project. Blasting operations are complete as of yesterday January 9th, 2020. Currently the contractor is working on installing the force main pipe now that the rock excavation is complete. Construction will continue through the winter weather permitting. It is expected that construction will continue well into 2020.

The Town of Durham owns, operates and maintains 17 miles of sanitary sewer, including the existing 3,000-foot Dover Road Pump Station force main. The 18-inch asbestos-cement (AC) force main was originally installed in 1967 and conveys all the Town’s wastewater flows to the Durham Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF). Because of the location and age of the force main, coupled with no immediate backup provisions, and the fact that the existing force main represents a potential single point of failure, the existing force main was recommended for upgrade. The purpose of this project is to replace the existing force main with a new pipe located upland of the high tide line, along an accessible alignment.

The selected force main alignment will be routed along the shoulder of Route 108 (Dover Road) for approximately 400 linear feet, and then continue within the paved travel-way of Old Piscataqua Road. Old Piscataqua Road dead ends approximately 1,500 feet east of Dover Road. The sewer alignment will continue in an easterly direction through a short stretch of Town-owned property before entering NHDOT’s extended Route 4 road right-of-way. The force main alignment will parallel Route 4 and be approximately 100 feet south of the centerline of Route 4. West of the WWTF property, the force main alignment will turn and continue in a southerly direction. The force main alignment will cross a private property owned by UNH before entering the Town-owned WWTF property. The alignment ends at the southern side of the WWTF property where the force main will connect to the existing Headworks building. 



The total anticipated length of the new future force main piping is approximately 3,400 linear feet of 20-inch HDPE.

The existing force main will remain in service to provide redundancy to the system. Following the completion of the construction of the new force main the Town will investigate the interior condition of the existing force main to determine if any modifications or improvements need to be made. 

All questions and comments should be directed to Town Engineer, April Talon at 603-868-5578 or via email at mailto:atalon@ci.durham.nh.us

ORCSD BUDGET PROCESS UPDATE – Proposed Middle School project, Operating Budget, and Teachers Guild Contract details outlined.

It is budget season again. The school system has a number of critical dates in the coming weeks, one as soon as next week. The School Board has been reviewing and refining the 2020-21 budget for the review of community members.

There are two public hearings next week on January 15, 2020 at 7:00 pm in the high school auditorium. The first hearing will be on the proposed middle school bond, and the second will be on the operating budget. After the public hearings the Board will take final action on the proposed budget. The next stage of the budget process is the Deliberative Session, set for February 4, 2020. Finally, residents will be asked to vote on March 10, 2020, on the proposed middle school bond, operating budget, and teacher contract.

The School Board goal was not to have the apportioned share of the budget exceed 3.5%. The ORCSD is proposing a 2.83% budget increase, inclusive of the operating budget, bond and teacher contract warrants, for the 2020-21 school year, which meets the Board’s goal for 2020-21.

Article III requests the citizens of the district to decide on the Bond for the proposed new middle school. This article requires at least a 60% approval by the voters. It proposes a guaranteed maximum price of $49,847,732 for the proposed school. The proposed budget includes the 1st payment of $625,000 or 1.32%, of the total proposed budget on the new middle school, should it pass on March 10th.

Construction costs are increasing at 4%-6% a year, so the ORCSD reports the guaranteed maximum price for a brand-new school is very competitive and means the cost of the proposed school cannot be any higher. As a reference, recent construction in surrounding communities includes Dover High School at $87 million and Newmarket renovation at $39 million.

If the voters approve Article III, the Board will bond that amount over 25 years. The interest rates for municipal and school construction is at record lows, with the most recent issue coming in at 2.4%. On the other hand, demand related to construction is at record-highs, so achieving a guaranteed maximum price of $49,847,732 is an important milestone.

The proposed school provides for the academic space that is desperately needed, creates a safe and handicap- friendly environment, is sustainable, and saves taxpayer funds that would otherwise be needed to maintain the current school, which due to age, is becoming cost prohibitive. Details and images of the proposed school can be found at http://www.orcsd.org/ under the quick links ~ Proposed New Middle School.

Article IV is the Operating Budget, which is up $91,979 or less than 1% at only .19%. The ORCSD reports the School Board adopted an operating budget that is as frugal as possible in order to keep the cost of the proposed new middle school affordable. The 2020-21 budget allows the district to meet its academic mission and supports the adopted strategic plan. The requested budget does not include any new positions.

Article V is the Guild Contract which represents an unprecedented five-year agreement in order to predict future personnel costs, the district’s largest cost center. The District will be able to more accurately predict personnel costs, as it absorbs the bond for the proposed middle school. The ORCSD reports the new agreement allows for increases in salary but lowers benefit sections. The amount requested for teacher salaries is $627,364 or 1.32% in 2020-21. The new contract calls for greater participation by teachers in health insurance, provides a high deductible health insurance option, and lowers the buy-out for those who choose not to take insurance. The new contract made major changes in the evaluation of teachers.

Should you have any questions regarding the ORCSD proposed 2020-21 school budget please feel free to email School Superintendent Jim Morse at mailto:jmorse@orcsd.org.

left: Town Councilor Carden Welsh and Durham resident Ute Luxem participate in a roundtable discussion at today's SRPC workshop.

right: Planning Board Chair Paul Rasmussen prioritizes sticky notes with planning ideas.

A GAGGLE OF DURHAM OFFICIALS/RESIDENTS ATTEND SRPC REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TRANSPORTATION 

On Friday morning, a great turnout of folks from Durham attended a regional workshop sponsored by the Strafford Regional Planning Commission focusing on housing, economic development, and transportation facing the region. Included were Planning Board Chair Paul Rasmussen, Town Councilor Carden Welsh, resident Michael Hoffman, COAST Exec. Director (and Durham resident) Rad Nichols, Provident Bank Vice President (and Durham resident) Ute Luxem, Ec. Dev. Director Christine Soutter, and Mr. Selig. During the workshop, participants representing communities from around the SRPC catchment area were asked to envision their goals/priorities for the three core topics of the day, and to then brainstorm and rank order these priorities.  

FROM THE SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST

The Presidential Primary is coming up very quickly (February 11). The Supervisors are very busy preparing the checklist so that it will be as complete as possible on election day. If you are not registered yet, please do so before the deadline of February 4. If you wait any longer than that you will have to register at the polls where you may have to wait in a long line. You may register at the Durham Town Hall any time they are open, which is 8:00 – 4:30 every day. Whether you register there or at the election, 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.

Besides registering with the Town Clerk or at the polls on election day, the Supervisors will also be available at the following times:

• Tuesday January 21 from 7:00 – 7:30 PM at the Town Hall. (Filing to run for town or school office begins the next day)
• Wednesday January 29 from 11:00 – 1:30 at UNH at Holloway Commons
• Tuesday February 4 from 6:30 – 7:00 in the auditorium at ORHS just prior to the school deliberative session.

If you are interested in volunteering on election day, contact the Town Clerk’s office either via phone or email, and someone will get in touch with you. We especially need help with registering new voters and with checking voters in, although we do need help in other areas.

PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS TO BE PLACED ON THE MARCH 10, 2020 TOWN ELECTION BALLOT

On Monday, December 2, 2019, the Durham Town Council held a public hearing at its regular meeting relative to various proposed amendments to the Durham Town Charter for placement on the March 10, 2020 Town Election ballot.

For the past several years, the Administrator’s Office has been accumulating various Charter amendments that have been identified as needing to be made. Amendments to the Town Charter were last made in March 2009. In addition, the town’s attorney, Laura Spector-Morgan, has also reviewed the Charter and has identified other areas within the Charter she felt could also be amended. 

Below is a link to the draft language and format of amendments that are being recommended by unanimous vote of the Town Council for placement on the Town Election ballot for March 10, 2020. Explanations for each of the recommended changes are provided here for the Council’s information but cannot legally be placed on the election ballot itself. 

The most significant change is an increase in the bond threshold requiring a referendum vote of the Town. The current bond threshold of $1,000,000.00 has been in existence since the adoption of the Charter in 1987. One recommended amendment would raise the cap to reflect the rate of inflation since that time, which in today’s dollars would be $2,288,768.96. (Rounded to $2,300,000.00). In essence, $1 million today does not buy what it once did almost 33 years ago.

View the recommended Charter changes HERE.

REVISED MILL PLAZA REDEVELOPMENT SUBMITTED TO PLANNING BOARD BY COLONIAL DURHAM 

Colonial Durham Associates has submitted to the Planning Board a revised site plan and associated application materials for its proposed redevelopment of Mill Plaza. The documents, dated 1/2/20, are available on the Town website.

Compared to the previous plan, the new plan has a smaller total footprint and fewer residential beds (258 beds in 108 apartments, down from 330 beds in the previous proposal). These changes result from eliminating a portion of the L-shaped building and shifting the middle building to the north, i.e., further from the Faculty Road neighborhood. On the other hand, this middle building is proposed to be 4 stories tall, rather than 3 stories. In addition to the residential units, the proposed project contains approximately 44,800 square feet of new commercial space, including retail, office, restaurant and a bank with drive-through.

The plan shows 424 on-site parking spaces, including 340 surface spaces and 84 spaces in a garage. (This represents an increase of 79 spaces from the current total.) The plan also identifies 157 additional off-site parking spaces on an adjacent parcel owned by Toomerfs, LLC, although those off-site spaces are the subject of a separate application and are not tied to the Mill Plaza Project.

Colonial Durham Associates will make its formal presentation of the revised plan at the Planning Board meeting on January 22. In addition, the revised plan will be considered by the Technical Review Group at its meeting on Tuesday, January 14, at 10:00 am. Due to the size and complexity of this proposed project, the Planning Board will hold a series of public hearings over the coming months to review specific aspects of the proposal, including utilities, landscaping and lighting, stormwater management and wetland/stream protection, and traffic impacts.

DAM FEASIBILITY STUDY PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON JANUARY 16TH

The first public informational meeting for the Dam Feasibility Study will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2020 in Town Council chambers at 7pm. The goal of the meeting will be to introduce the members of the project team, present the scope and projected timeline of the study and to take questions and comments. 

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE REGARDING AGRICULTURE - AN UPDATE

The Durham Agricultural Commission met with the Planning Board this week to review proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance regarding agriculture. The proposed amendments include new definitions of agriculture, based on State statutes, new management standards for agriculture, and a new table of uses to enable more agriculture in Durham. The Agricultural Commission is eager to receive comments from residents about the proposed amendments. Residents can discuss the amendments with the Agricultural Commission at our meeting on Monday, January 13th at 7pm in the community meeting room at the Police Station, or email comments to Theresa Walker, Agricultural Commission Chair, mailto:theresawalker@comcast.net.  The proposed amendments and additional information are available on the Town’s website, https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/boc_planning/zoning-amendment-agriculture. 

A picture from this morning along Durham Point Road where Eversource trimming occurred this fall to allow for the installation of protected cable. Courtesy Todd Selig

EVERSOURCE TREE TRIMMING AND TREE REMOVAL ON DURHAM POINT ROAD NOW COMPLETE

Eversource completed its tree trimming and tree removal on Durham Point Road in November. Durham Point Road is a scenic road and especially sensitive given its mature foliage and beautiful tree canopy. In response to concerns of residents along the road and the general public, the Planning Board hired an independent arborist to oversee the work, the cost of which was borne by Eversource. Erik Keenan, our consultant, provided daily reports on the progress of the tree removal including before and after photographs of the work. It does appear that Eversource was very careful and surgical in its work consistent with the direction provided by the Planning Board and the Town’s policy for tree cutting on scenic roads. We did not receive any complaints so it appears that the public was satisfied. We appreciate the cooperation of Eversource. We received a note today from Ian Farley, the Eversource arborist who directed the work, expressing his satisfaction with the project and the process, demanding as it was.

YEAR END WRAP UP FOR 2019 - A summary of the significant issues/events/accomplishments in Durham over the last year.

Town staff, elected, and appointed officials are working to address community needs, control costs, and maintain the municipality’s fiscal position despite many competing pressures. From preserving the quality of life within our traditional residential neighborhoods, to grappling with human rights and societal issues, to managing development pressures, to exploring new ways to address solid waste and recycling amidst market headwinds, to striving to be sustainable on numerous fronts, many individuals have collectively worked diligently on behalf of the community in 2019. 

Moody’s Investors Services reported on Nov. 5, 2019 that the credit position for Durham is very good. Its Aa2 rating is slightly higher than the median rating of Aa3 for cities nationwide. The notable credit factors include a strong financial position, a very strong wealth and income profile, and a modestly sized tax base. The Town has a strong financial position, which is relatively favorable in comparison to Durham’s assigned rating of Aa2. The Town's cash balance as a percent of operating revenues (88.4%) far exceeds the US median and it remained stable between 2014 and 2018. Additionally, Durham's fund balance as a percent of its operating revenues (30.3%) is consistent with that of other Moody's-rated cities nationwide. These indices are indicative of measured success in realizing the Town’s fiscal goals. 

To view the full report, click HERE.

BUSY COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH

Chief Kurz has been working to present a number of ordinance amendments for Council consideration at this Monday evening’s Town Council meeting. They include the following:

• Speed limit reductions throughout the Woodridge Neighborhood
• Speed limit reduction on a section of Packers Falls Road
• Regulations governing the use of motorized scooters 
• Regulations governing prohibiting the use of motorized vehicles on Town Property
• Limiting parking at the Town Library to patrons and employees only

Residents of Packers Falls Road and the Woodridge Neighborhood both approached the Traffic Safety Committee with petitions to review the current speed limits in the Town Code. After reviewing both issues, the Traffic Safety Committee recommended that the amendment be presentation for adoption. 

Additionally, there will be discussion pertaining to an ordinance that would establish rules and regulations designed to govern motorized scooters and their use throughout Durham. Yet another proposed amendment would prohibit motorized vehicles from traversing Town of Durham woodland paths and trails. Finally to address existing and potential parking issues at the library, an amendment would prohibit parking at the library to those utilizing the services of the library and/or are employees.

All of the ordinance amendments were postponed to this meeting due to the extensive budget deliberations that occurred in December allowing the Durham Town Council time to fully review the proposals.

RiverWoods entry sign showing building letters. Courtesy Todd Selig

RIVERWOODS DURHAM CONSTRUCTION TIMETABLE COMING ALONG NICELY

While the Riverwoods Durham project has been keeping Durham’s building code/fire code personnel busy due to its sheer size/scale, it is coming along smoothly, and we are happy to report that the entire project team has been first rate, highly professional, and a pleasure with which to work.  The Commons, Wing A, Wing B, and Wing C are all now occupied.  Wing D and Wing E are scheduled as of this date to be ready to be occupied on or around February 3rd.  The Health Care wing is scheduled to be ready around the end of March.  

CHRISTMAS TREE PICKUP INFORMATION

Public Works picked up Christmas Trees this week throughout town. By the end of today collection will have been completed, having gone down each road twice. If you did not get your tree out on time, feel free to bring it to the Transfer Station.  

The annual newsletter went out to all town residents the week before Christmas. The newsletter can be viewed online HERE. Remember, all items must be curbside by 7am on their scheduled to in order to be picked up.  

ORYA IS RELOCATING ITS OFFICES TO THE OLD MADBURY LIBRARY BUILDING

After assessing things at the new office space in Madbury, ORYA will continue to utilize its current space in Durham for day to day operations until around Jan. 20th. While operating the day to day in Durham, they hope to have all of their property out of the Durham office by the end of the month.  The Madbury location will provide significantly more space for ORYA and the office is right across the field from the Madbury fields, which is idea.  

Once ORYA has fully transitioned to the Madbury venue, Durham Parks & Recreation will expand into the rest of the first floor in the Old Town Hall/Courthouse.

AN UPDATE ON ROUTE 4 TRAFFIC AT BUNKER CREEK CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

Now that the holidays are over the weekly traffic schedule will be back to "normal" hours at the NHDOT's Bunker Creek Bridge Replacement Project on US Route 4 in Durham, NH as follows…

One lane alternating traffic schedule:

Monday – 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Tuesday – 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Wednesday – 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Thursday – 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday – 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM

If you have questions, please contact the Design-Build Team at http://nhdotrte4durham@gmail.com

For project history or background information you can also visit the NHDOT's Webpage at https://www.nh.gov/dot/projects/durham16236/index.htm

DURHAM NAMED ONE OF BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

The organization HomeSnacks has just published its 6th Annual Study on the best places to live in New Hampshire. For 2020, Durham is #4. To crunch the numbers, the organization looked at the recently released Census (Dec 2019) and FBI crime data (Oct 2019). Learn more and see the full rankings HERE.

APPLICANTS FOR THE PEASE RESTORATION ADVISORY BOARD SOUGHT

The Pease Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) is a forum that provides the Seacoast community with the opportunity to become involved in the environmental restoration process at the former Pease Air Force base in Portsmouth, NH, either as a member or through attendance at RAB meetings. The RAB provides opportunities for community members to share their questions, concerns, and ideas with the agencies involved in the cleanup and to influence project decisions through discussion with decision makers.

RAB members are expected to attend 3-4 RAB meetings a year, generally held on a weeknight for 2-3 hours. They are expected to participate constructively and come to meetings prepared.

To be considered for membership in the Pease RAB, please complete an application and submit it by email or mail by January 25, 2018 to:

Attn: Ona Ferguson, The Consensus Building Institute, 100 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140, or mailto:oferguson@cbuilding.orgr

More information and the application may be found HERE.

2020 TOP DOG CONTEST - Entries accepted after January 1, 2020

The Town of Durham is proud to announce its first annual Top Dog contest. This contest was created to motivate and remind dog owners to license their pets every year by April 30, as state law requires. You will automatically be registered for the Top Dog contest if you obtain a dog license from the Town Clerk’s office before April 30, 2020.  

Rules and Regulations

• Contestants will automatically be entered into the contest when they register their dog(s) before April 30 (only open to Durham residents).
• Residents who DO NOT want to be included in the contest may opt out by writing, calling, or emailing the Durham Town Clerks office.
• Contestants must be 18 or older and be the owner of the dog on file with Town Clerk's Office.
• Durham employees are not eligible.
• The contestant must have a 2020 Town of Durham dog license by April 30.
• A current rabies vaccination will be required to obtain the license.
• The Top Dog winner may submit a digital photo and brief biography of their dog to the Town Clerk’s Office (OPTIONAL). 
• Photos of the Top Dog winner may be displayed in the Town Hall, Town of Durham’s webpage, and the Durham Friday Updates.
• The winner will be drawn at random by the Town Council in May 2020.
• The winner of the Top Dog contest will receive a certificate and a gift basket of donated goods and services from local businesses.

Mr. & Mrs. William Jepson

A MARRIAGE AT DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

Officer Chloe Robidas recently married William Jepson last month.  Chloe’s new husband Will is also a police officer for the Wells, Maine Police Department.  The Christmas themed wedding had something of a “cop twist” to their wedding cake which was made of donuts accompanied by a coffee bar.  The couple is currently planning to build a house on Jepson family land in the very near future.  Congratulations to Chloe and Will Jepson on their nuptials! 

ALZHEIMER'S/DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

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.

LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER AT THE TOWN HALL

We are looking for an interested resident to volunteer at the Town Hall to assist departments with filing, data entry, answering phones, etc. for a few hours each week/month. If you have an interest, please contact the Administrator’s Office at mailto:jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION PRESENTS: The Adams Family and Adams Point: "More Than Just Gundalows" - Family Life, Destination, and History.

On Saturday, January 25th at 1 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers at Durham Town Hall (snow date, Sunday, January 26th), Durham native Michael Provost will present The Adams Family and Adams Point: “More Than Just Gundalows” - Family Life, Destination, and History. He will give us an up-close-and-personal account of the rise and fall of the Adams legacy, sharing information collected from local research. This event is open to the public.  Light refreshments will be provided.

RESIDENTIAL MAIL DELIVERY DURHAM WINTER MONTHS

Please be sure to shovel out around your mailbox as shown in the illustration above.

The US Postal Service asks residents to please shovel out access to their mailboxes, whether their mail delivery is curbside along the road or a pathway and up stairs to their house, so that letter carriers can deliver mail safely. In addition, mail carriers aWire out late after dark delivering packages so residents are asked to leave their porch lights on. I've attached the official postal form notice. Customers that don't clear out access to their mailboxes will not receive mail.

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.

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.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, January 14th at 6:30 pm 

YA Compassion Project: Bat Wraps 

Please join us for a program connecting the library with the community. We will be making bat wraps for the baby bats affected by the wildfires in Australia. Ages 10 and up. Pizza will be served.

Tuesday, January 14th at 6:30 pm

Family Fun Night "Piggie & Elephant Party"

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.  This month's activity We are having an Elephant & Piggy Party!  All are welcome.We will have crafts, games and fun treats

Tuesday, January 21st at 6:00 pm

Bessie's Story

Watching the Lights Go Out is an inspiring story about a charming, brave, unpretentious chocolate Lab who gradually loses her eyesight. The author chronologically leads the reader from the original diagnosis of terminal blindness for his beloved four-year-old pet through the two-and-a-half-year transition to sightlessness. In the process, Bessie unwittingly becomes an expert mentor and teacher for the high-wire act of growing older with grace and optimism. Open to all. No registration required

Wednesday, January 22nd at 6:30 pm

Maximize Your Social Security Retirements Benefits

Maximizing Social Security led by Andrew Githmark. As a certified National Social Security Advisor® (NSSA®). He will cover what spousal benefits regardless of status and review the potential effects that working in retirement and having a public employee or government pension can have on your benefits and answer other questions. This event is free and open to the public. No registration required.

*Academic year commences the third week of August through graduation at UNH in May.

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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1955 - The Oyster River Cooperative School District was formed, combining the schools of Durham, Lee, and Madbury. By 1956, all pupils, kindergarten through grade 12, were housed and no longer did local students have to go out of town to high school. Present enrollment (in 1976) is 1776, with 86 teachers.

DPW snow plow truck driving away in the distance after Wednesday night's snow squall. Courtesy Todd Selig

Have a very nice weekend.

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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