Friday Updates - January 17, 2025

Friday, January 17, 2025

Courtesy, Internet

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for racial equality, working classes, and the oppressed around the world. Commonly called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or MLK Day, the third Monday of January is a federal holiday to honor Dr. King's life and legacy. 

Town offices and the Durham Public Library will be closed on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Day.

There will be NO changes to the refuse and recycling collection schedule on Monday, January 20, 2025. The Raymond A. LaRoche Sr., Transfer Station and Recycling Center will remain open on Tuesday, January 21 and Saturday, January 25, 2025.

STRAFFORD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROPOSE 2025 BUDGET TO COUNTY DELEGATION - an increase of 4.18%

The Strafford County Commissioners have proposed $89,045,019 in operating expenses and revenues of $47,061,841. The proposed amount to be raised by taxes is $41,983,179, an increase of 4.18% over 2024. The Consumer Price Index for the northeast urban region through twelve months ending in November of 2024 was 3.5%. 

For 2025, the County reports it is facing the problems many businesses, towns, and cities across NH face: a severe labor shortage and highly competitive wages. 

To review the proposed Strafford County FY 2025 budget, click HERE. There is also a paper copy available on the small table in the Town Hall lobby.

POSITIONS OPEN FOR MARCH 11, 2025, TOWN ELECTION - Filing period begins Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

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. Candidates interested in running for Town office should file their declaration at the Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office starting on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 8:00 am, through Friday, January 31, 2025, until 5:00 pm. 

The following positions are available:

• Three positions for Town Councilors (3-year term)
• Three positions for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (3-year term)
• One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (3-year term)

DURHAM/ORCSD TO ORDER NEW VOTING MACHINES IN 2025

In September 2023, the Ballot Law Commission conditionally certified the VotingWorks and Dominion ImageCast Precinct electronic ballot counting devices.

As of March 6, 2024, VotingWorks satisfactorily completed the conditions required by the Ballot Law Commission for their device to be used in New Hampshire elections.

As of January 3, 2025, the Dominion ImageCast Precinct electronic ballot counting device, sold by LHS Associates (which the Town and ORCSD have utilized for many years), satisfactorily completed the conditions required by the Ballot Law Commission for their device to be used in New Hampshire elections pending the issuance of surety bonds to each town/city for each purchased device.

LHS Associates has let our office know that they plan to begin delivering devices after March elections in April of 2025.

Durham has ordered two machines and ORCSD has ordered one to replace the machines that have been in use for over 25 years.

DO YOU NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE?

The 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 Tuesday January 21, 7:00 – 7:30 PM.

This is the night before the beginning of the filing period to run for a town or school position. This election will be held on March 11, 2025, at Oyster River High School. 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).

This is NOT the final date to register before the town election. However, if you are planning to vote at the School Deliberative Session on February 4, this will be the final session for the Supervisors to revise the Checklist for that meeting. If you are hoping to vote at that meeting, you should make sure you are registered by the above session.

Applicants for registration must bring with them proofs of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Affidavits are no longer accepted.

Land Stewardship Coordinator, Veronique Ludington, walked the Oyster River Forest last Friday and again this week and noticed that over the weekend someone went to great lengths to pull more round markers and the nails on the Red, Yellow and White trails and then stuck the markers on some of the signposts. 

The Durham Police Department will be installing a trail camera to try to get to the bottom of who is removing/moving the trail markers.

NEW STUDENT RENTAL ORDINANCE INITIATED BY THE PLANNING BOARD - Will be before the Town Council on February 3

The Planning Board voted to initiate a new ordinance addressing student rentals. The proposed ordinance would replace the current three-unrelated rule with new standards. 

The proposed ordinance will be presented to the Town Council on February 3. If the Council wishes to move forward it will schedule a public hearing for a later meeting date. You can see the proposed ordinance, background for the ordinance, and other related documents HERE.

The change in this ordinance has been driven in part by a new proposed law (see item below Re: HB 457) now before the NH Legislature that would effectively nullify the three-unrelated rule.

LEGISLATION INTENDED TO STRIKE DOWN DURHAM’S NO MORE THAN THREE UNRELATED ZONING PROVISION IS BACK – HB 457

HB 457, championed by local landlord Jeffrey Berlin, would substantially reduce the ability of municipalities to set limits on the number of unrelated occupants in a house or dwelling unit. In most of Durham’s zoning districts there is not allowed more than three unrelated occupants in a unit. This ordinance has been effective for many years in protecting the Town's neighborhoods. Durham is a college town and UNH students are, of course, an essential and valued part of our community. However, college student rentals are in effect a commercial use/business and students who live in such properties often have a different lifestyle than non-students; and undergraduate student rentals, especially with a larger number of occupants, can sometimes be disruptive to neighbors. HB 457 would strike down Durham's no more than 3-unrelated zoning provision. We will continue to track this legislation closely. The bill reads as follows:

2025 Session - HOUSE BILL 457 - AN ACT relative to zoning restrictions on dwelling units. 

SPONSORS: Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Bean, Belk. 6; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Farrington, Straf. 8; Rep. A. Murray, Hills. 20; Rep. Presa, Hills. 12; Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Reardon, Dist 15; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Housing 

AN ACT relative to zoning restrictions on dwelling units.

 Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1  New Paragraph; Zoning; Grant of Power; Dwelling Unit Occupancy. Amend RSA 674:16 by inserting after paragraph VII the following new paragraph:

VIII. In its exercise of the powers granted under this subdivision, the legislative body of a city, town, village district, or county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places shall not adopt any ordinance that restricts the number of occupants of any dwelling unit to less than 2 occupants per bedroom, and the governing body thereof shall not enforce any such ordinance. Such legislative body shall not adopt any zoning ordinance within a municipality that discriminates based on the familial or non-familial relationships or marital status among the occupants of the dwelling unit, including but not limited to college students, and the governing body thereof shall not enforce any such ordinance. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the enforcement of the state building code or state fire code.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

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 January 22

1) an application from Torrington Properties for façade enhancements of Mill Plaza on the rear building, site improvements around the rear building, a drive through for a bank on the rear building and other site improvements. For more information, click HERE.

2) a preliminary proposal to relocate the Dunkin Donuts from the Irving Gas Station site on Dover Road/Route 108 to the unused lot with the vacant building to the right of Holiday Inn Express. For more information, click HERE. 

Ken Weston, UNH Campus Architect is also scheduled to speak to the board that evening about the large Edge project to be located off Mast Road.

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.  

UNH FREE SPEECH AND EXPRESSION WORKING GROUP ISSUES FINAL REPORT CONCERNING SPRING 2024 PROTESTS ON CAMPUS

UNH President Elizabeth Chilton issued the following announcement on Wednesday of this week upon receipt of a report from the working group she had convened concerning spring 2024 protests on campus. You can read the report HERE.

“Last night, I received the final report from the Free Speech and Expression working group that I convened last semester. As you may recall, I had asked this group to review the university’s speech and expression policies and guidelines and examine how these policies informed the university’s actions during the Spring 2024 protests. The group was also charged with evaluating best practices and approaches for interacting with student and community demonstrators at similar institutions and making recommendations for improvement here. 

I want to thank the 16-member working group, led by Associate Vice President Nadine Petty, for engaging in this important effort and for their thoughtful and diligent work over the last few months. The working group produced an important perspective on the spring protests and the university’s response, as well as campus policies and procedures more broadly. 

In the coming days, I will work with my executive team and leaders of key campus units, including the Division of Student Life and the UNH Police Department, to evaluate the recommendations and propose specific actions for strengthening our commitment to free speech, expression, and campus safety. I will continue to keep our community involved and informed; updates will be provided on the Free Speech at UNH website (https://www.unh.edu/leadership/free-speech-unh) and during my State of the University address on February 11th. 

UNH is an inclusive community that promotes intellectual growth through the exploration of diverse perspectives. Freedom of speech and expression is fundamental to that work, as well as our mission as a public university. I look forward to engaging with all of you to continue to foster a campus culture aligned with those values.” 

A view of the Oyster River from the Kenny Rotner bridge. Courtesy, Carol Birch

EPPING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATING WITHOUT ISSUES THIS WINTER

The UNH/Durham Water System has received an update regarding the Town of Epping’s wastewater treatment plant. If you recall two winters ago, due to a variety of operational failures, Epping was surcharging wastewater discharge into the Lamprey River and consequently, in an abundance of caution, the UNH/Durham Water System stopped withdrawals from our impoundment on the Lamprey River at Wiswall Road. This season we have positive news.

Currently, Epping has replaced all three of its failed wastewater membranes with new Violea RO membranes, built a structure over the process area, and the wastewater plant there is able to process all the wastewater influent.

The large storage lagoons in Epping, which at the time were surcharging into the Lamprey River, are empty/decommissioned, and they are slated to be permanently reclaimed with fill. Epping is still under an administrative order and a limitation of some type on new connections until such time as they are able to create additional redundancy in their processes.

While there is more to do in Epping, this is positive news for the Lamprey River, its ecosystem, the UNH/Durham Water System, and the region.

2025 DURHAM RESIDENT STICKERS AVAILABLE

Durham Public Works would like to remind residents that a yearly Durham Resident Sticker is required to access the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center at 100 Durham Point Road.

2025 stickers are now available at the Durham Public Works main campus located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive or at the Durham Town Hall.

This sticker is free of charge and allows residents to dispose of municipal solid waste and recyclable materials. The disposal of bulky waste, construction debris, and certain electronic and refrigerant-containing devices is not covered by this sticker and requires separate coupons which are available for purchase at Durham Public Works or the Transfer Station.

The sticker also enables residents to park downtown in the Bobcat Corner Lot (formerly Sammy's Lot) and on the north side of Main Street (Clark's American Bistro side of the street) between Pettee Brook Lane and Madbury Road for an additional hour free.

LEMON PUNCH THEATRE LAB LLC MOVES TO DURHAM

Lemon Punch Theatre Lab LLC has moved from Amesbury to Durham and is open for small group classes and private coaching! The Lab is an airy, well-lit space for classes and theatre making, serving adult and older teen students. The Lab is located at 12 Mathes Cove Road in Durham, NH. 

Owner Leslie Pasternack brings over twenty years of experience in the rehearsal room, on stage, and in the college classroom to her teaching. Leslie teaches Scene Study, Physical Comedy, Playwriting, Clowning, Directing and more. She also provides private acting coaching and play-writing mentorship both in person and on Zoom. Leslie is available for on-site workshops at your business, school or residence, such as her recent workshop series at Riverwoods Durham.

For more information and to see current class offerings, visit https://lemonpunchtheatrelab.com or email Leslie at Leslie@lesliepasternack.com. You can also text or call (603) 321-8550. 

HIGHLIGHTING OUR VOLUNTEERS - Neil Slepian on the Conservation Commission!

For the next few weeks in the Friday Updates, we will be profiling some of the dedicated volunteers who serve on Town Boards, Committees and Commissions. The goal is to honor those who work diligently to better this Town, as well as to encourage others to consider volunteering. Our first profile is of Neil Slepian, member of the Conservation Commission

How long have you lived in Durham? With the exception of one misguided year moving back to New Jersey after graduating from UNH, I have been in Durham since 1974. My wife Marjorie and I bought our current house in 1987 and are still there.

How long have you been on the Conservation Commission? I have been on the Conservation Commission for 2-1/2 years. 

Why were you interested in joining the Conservation Commission? I majored in Environmental Conservation at UNH and have been an avid hiker and outdoors lover most of my life. While I was working full time and helping to raise our four children, I had no time to volunteer. When I retired, I wanted to find a way to spend part of my time giving back to this wonderful town where I went to school, met my wife, and raised our family. Marjorie noticed an announcement in the Friday Updates about openings on the Conservation Commission. The opportunity to help preserve, protect and improve Durham’s beautiful open lands, trails, wetlands and shoreline fit my interests and passions perfectly. I was lucky to be able to join the dedicated townspeople on this Commission. 

What would you say to those thinking about joining a Board, Committee or Commission? I encourage anyone who has even a little bit of free time in the evening to consider joining a board, committee or commission. I was surprised at how little time it can take, though there are opportunities to get more involved if you have the time. There are many benefits to volunteering like this. You can make a real contribution to important decisions that have a lasting impact on Durham. It feels good to learn how these decisions are made, and how our Town government works. It’s rewarding to make a difference. 

I have met a lot of thoughtful, intelligent and interesting people that I would not have met otherwise and engaged in thought-provoking discussions toward common goals. Getting involved on the Conservation Commission has broadened my perspective and enriched my life. 

The Conservation Commission is currently full. However, there are many other committees and commissions that have openings. Click below to learn more.

Did You Know?  Sponge Choices

The sponges and scouring pads you find in most stores pose a host of environmental problems — from manufacture to disposal. Luckily, there are lots of sustainable, cost-effective alternatives to typical kitchen sponges.

Sponges Are Made From Plastic

The bright green and yellow sponges you see in your grocery store aisles are typically made from plastic. 

Sponges Are Frequently Replaced

If 1 million households toss out one sponge per week, that’s 52 million sponges per year. With more than 127 million households in the United States, that adds up to a staggering amount of plastic trash.

Sponges Create Microplastic Pollution

When you wash your dishes with a sponge, it sheds tiny fibers. These fibers, a type of microplastics, can’t be filtered out by water treatment plants. These end up in the ocean. 

Options for Recycling Sponges

Unfortunately, kitchen sponges and scouring pads are not recyclable and you cannot put them in curbside recycling.

Natural Alternatives to Plastic Sponges

Because they are not recyclable, your best option is to look for sponges and scrubbers that are made of natural materials.

Note: Be on the lookout for greenwashing. Manufacturers can use terms such as “eco-friendly,” “all-natural,” and “nontoxic” pretty loosely, so it helps to do some research. 

Here are some plastic-free options.

Fabric Dishcloths

Natural fibers like organic cotton and linen are best.

Cellulose Sponges

Cellulose sponges are made primarily from wood fiber. However, not all sponges labeled as cellulose are 100% natural plant fibers. Many are mixed with plastic. 

Look for companies that make 100% plant-based cellulose sponges that are fully biodegradable. 

Loofah Sponges

Look for loofah kitchen sponges - cut to a convenient size.

Coconut and Walnut Scrubbers

You can replace your plastic scouring pads with plant-based scrubbers. Since they are 100% plant-based, you can add them to your home composting bin when they’re worn out.

The Replenish Refillery in Dover, Refill Station in Portsmouth and We Fill Good in Kittery, Maine are businesses that offer an assortment of sustainable options to tackle your cleaning needs.

Source: Earth911

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/

DURHAM POLICE SCHEDULED FOR CALEA ACCREDITATION REVIEW IN 2025

The Durham Police Department is an accredited law enforcement agency through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and is currently scheduled to complete their four-year assessment in March.

CALEA is a non-profit governmental organization that exists to improve the delivery of public safety services by maintaining a credible and best-in-class body of standards, developed by a highly regarded group of public safety organizations; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence through a highly coveted, comprehensive awards program.

The accreditation process is designed to provide agencies with the highest level of service by providing continual reviews of policies and procedures as they relate to CALEA standards. The intent of the annual review is to confirm compliance of the applicable standards and policy parameters relating to the department.

Each year, as a part of the four-year assessment cycle, a CALEA Compliance Services Member (CSM) will work with the department’s accreditation manager and review a list approximately 25 percent of the department’s standards remotely. The last CSM review of the four-year cycle will take place February 14 to February 22.

In March, a trained CALEA assessor will visit the Durham Police Department, and over the course of several days will conduct an on-site review accomplished through observation, inspections, and interviews with community members, partners, and Durham Police Department staff. At the conclusion of the review, the assessor will submit a report to CALEA and the Durham Chief of Police that will outline what the department is doing well and any suggestions for improvements. This valuable process helps to ensure the Durham Police Department remains in compliance with national best practices in policing.

NO REPORTED ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS IN DURHAM IN 2024

According to Police Chief Rene Kelley, a check of the Durham Police Department’s data base revealed there were no reported antisemitic incidents in the Town of Durham in 2024.

NO GRIEVANCES FILED AT DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2024 – 29 years with no grievances filed.

For the past 29 years, including the calendar year of 2024, there have been no grievances filed by any member of the Durham Police Department. Members of this department have set a foundation of excellence in policing which includes sound policies and strict adherence to the customer service philosophy of policing.  

While Police Chief Rene Kelley remains extremely proud of the fact that there have been no grievances, it is not the result of a passive management style at the Durham Police Department. It is directly attributable to the department’s collective commitment to sustain an atmosphere where management and staff work together resolving procedural acts and/or omissions before they became problematic. Additionally, Chief Kelley believes that the Town’s hiring process is so well tuned that even when employee turnover occurs, each employee remaining is committed to collaborative problem-solving which ultimately sustains a positive work environment.

JOB OPENINGS FOR THE TOWN OF DURHAM

Part-Time Assistant Town Clerk-Tax Collector

The Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office is accepting applications for a Part-Time Assistant Town Clerk/Tax Collector position. This individual will assist the Town Clerk-Tax Collector in various duties including, property tax and water/sewer payment collection and bill preparation. Some of the other duties will include motor vehicle registrations, vital records, dog licenses, elections, and maintaining town records. Please click HERE for more information.

Three Police Officer Candidates

The Durham, New Hampshire Police Department is seeking three Police Officer candidates. The applicants selected will provide law enforcement and community-oriented services to this diverse Seacoast/University community. The Durham Police Department is a Meritorious CALEA Accredited agency. Patrol Officers work a 4 day on 3 day off schedule. Please click HERE for more information. 

Public Works Project Engineer

This position includes performing civil and environmental engineering activities associated with the investigation, design, maintenance, and construction of public works projects. The position requires a Bachelor of Science degree with major course work in civil engineering from a recognized college or university with a minimum of two years of responsible experience in the field of civil engineering, including design and inspection. The successful candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Office computer software applications, stormwater modeling software, and geographic information system software. Must also have competency in using engineering/survey instrumentation. Please click HERE for more information.

Maintenance Worker IV – Highway Division

The successful candidate will undertake rewarding and challenging work, at times using independent judgment, to execute work involving the maintenance and construction of roads, sidewalks, right of ways, open spaces, Town properties, and drainage conveyance systems to ensure the safety and functionality of the Town’s infrastructure and multi-modal transportation network. The position performs laboring tasks when not assigned to equipment operation and assists in other maintenance-related functions within Durham Public Works when needed. The position works under both the general and direct supervision of the Operations Manager, Assistant Public Works Director, and Public Works Director in this versatile and exciting role. Please click HERE for more information.

THE ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES A FREE PRESENTATION - Live from the Mt. Washington Observatory!

The Active Retirement Association (ARA) invites you to a FREE VIRTUAL presentation via Zoom from the Mt. Washington Observatory by Mike Carmon, Summit Weather Operations Manager, who will discuss how the weather atop Mt. Washington affects New England. He will also cover recent studies that have analyzed trends in Mt. Washington’s weather and climate over the past 90 years.

The presentation will take place on Monday, February 3, 2025, 2:00 – 3:30 PM. This FREE virtual meeting via Zoom is open to the public. Registration for non-ARA members is required at seacoastara@gmail.com.

The ARA is an organization for people ages 50 and over, whether retired or not. Originally begun by and affiliated with UNH, it has over 350 members from New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and beyond. The ARA is committed to expanding the world of its members by offering lectures, workshops, discussion groups, films, cultural tours, walks/hikes, on-demand member interest groups, and much more. For more information visit www.unh.edu/ara or to inquire about membership write to arainfo1982@gmail.com.

The Active Retirement Association, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is not affiliated with any political, religious, ethnic, or special interest group.

OYSTER RIVER PROJECT GRADUATION RAFFLING CELTICS TICKETS

Oyster River Project Graduation is a planning a fun, substance-free, overnight graduation party for the class of 2025! To do so, we need to raise approximately $35,000. Therefore, we are raffling off tickets for the January 29th, Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls game at TD Garden. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please click HERE. The raffle drawing will be held on January 19. Thank you!

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Planned January 2025 School Closures:

January 20: All Oyster River schools and the SAU office will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Day.

January 27: All Oyster River schools will be closed for a teacher workshop day (grades 5-8 parent teacher conferences).

Important Dates to Remember:

January 22 through *January 31 until *5:00 PM - Filing period for school district openings (no filing fee required).

• One Moderator position - 1 year term
• Two At-Large School Board positions - 3 years term
• One Lee School Board position - 2 years term

February 4 - Annual Meeting Session I - Deliberative - ORMS Morse Recital Hall 7:00 PM. Snow date: February 6th same time and location

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

Report of the District February 2025 Edition

Available at the end of February at the SAU Office, ORCSD schools, and posted on the ORCSD website. If unable to pick up a report, please contact Wendy DiFruscio at 603-389-3286 or via email. Budget information can be found at www.orcsd.org under Budgets FY 25-26.

January 17-19 Oyster River Middle School Wizard of Oz Musical

Four performances at the Oyster River High School Auditorium (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH, 03824). 

January 17, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

January 18, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

January 18, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

January 19, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

January 23 Oyster River Middle School 5th Grade Concert

January 23, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Morse Recital Hall at the Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)

January 30 Coffee House

6:00 - 8:00 p.m. MPR at the Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). Coffee House celebrates the quarterly launch of the award-winning student publication Mouth of the River. The $5 admission can be purchased at the door and is one of MOR's primary fundraising sources. Food and drink are included with admission.

Mast Way School Susan Leifer Receives Presidential Award

On January 13, 2025, President Biden announced the nationwide recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Mast Way School Digital Learning Specialist Susan Leifer was named as a recipient. Only 5 educators from New Hampshire received this year’s presidential distinction. Additional information is available HERE.

Scholastic Art and Writing Award

23 Oyster River High School students received a Scholastic Art and Writing Award with many students receiving multiple awards. The ceremony will be held at Pinkerton Academy on February 9 in the Stockbridge Theater. An update will be shared when the local exhibition details have been confirmed.

Cat Trax is a collaborative bike share program with a mission to make sustainable transportation more accessible on campus and in Durham. With a fleet of 30 maintained bikes, and an app-based rental program, it's accessible to campus and Durham community members. UNH and Durham community members ride free! 

“Active transportation” options like biking and walking promote public health, protect air quality, and help reduce the carbon pollution that leads to climate change. Bikes are also a fun way to build community connection.

In spite of being cut from the Transportation Services budget in January 2024, the Cat Trax bikeshare program has been sustained thanks to partnership and support from the Town of Durham and the Student Activities Fee Committee (SAFC) and program administration by the Sustainability Institute.  Cat Trax garnered 530 members, 3,942 rides, and 3,925 miles ridden in AY23-24 (representing >50% increases over annualized data from last year’s pilot start). 

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 campus admissions tours to demonstrate the UNH’s sustainability leadership position. 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 as well as campus use.

The UNH Sustainability Institute team continue to explore ways to strengthen and expand the program and build stronger community awareness. For more information, click HERE.

ENROLLMENT FOR UNH SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMING OPENED ON JANUARY 15

The University of New Hampshire is offering its usual robust summer youth programming in 2025 for kids in Durham and beyond! Whether you’re looking for day or overnight programs, academic enrichment or athletic camps, UNH's Summer Youth Programs provide an endless array of opportunities for students from kindergarten through high school.

Enrollment opened on Wednesday, January 15 for these programs:

• Summer 1-1 Literacy Support
• Camp Pageturner
• Field Hockey
• Football
• KEEPERS
• Strength & Conditioning (NEW!)
• Boys Soccer
• Girls Soccer
• Volleyball
• Writers Academy

Visit https://www.unh.edu/youthprograms/ for more information and to register.

Don’t see the program you’re interested in? Even more youth programs will open on Wednesday, February 12.