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 NEWS AND HAPPENINGS ...
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Dr. David Burdick of the UNH Jackson Lab (Center seated) outlines the concept of a “living shoreline” for Wagon Hill Farm to Town officials as Dr. Gregg Moore illustrates the approach on the white board. Read more about the concept of a "living shoreline" as a potential solution for shoreline erosion in the write up below. Courtesy Todd Selig
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In the last two weeks, there have been several daytime burglaries in town. The Durham Police Department is actively investigating all of the reported cases. See the detailed write up below for more information.
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LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY IS JAN. 30TH AT SPECIAL CHECKLIST SESSION
The Durham Supervisors of the Checklist will meet at the Town Hall during the date and time listed below to accept new voters and to make corrections to the checklist:
Saturday January 30 10:00 AM –12:00 noon
Changes in party registration will not be accepted again until after February 9. January 30 is the last day new registrations will be accepted until the February 9 election. Anyone who is eligible to vote in Durham is welcome to do so at the polls (ORHS) on election day. However, expect long lines for registration.
Prospective voters are required by law to show proof of identity, age (18 by the election day), domicile/residence in Durham, and U.S. citizenship. A driver’s license and a birth certificate or passport are useful. Affidavits of domicile and citizenship may be signed under oath if proofs are lacking.
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2016 TOWN AND SCHOOL ELECTIONS - MARCH 8, 2016
The 2016 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at the Oyster River High School. Polling hours are from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Voters will park in reserved spaces along the front of the school and use the Multipurpose Room entrance.
The filing period for both the Town and ORCSD elected offices closed at 5:00 PM today. The following is a list of citizens that have filed for the Durham elected offices as of 5:00 PM.
Town Council, 3-year terms (3): Alan Bennett, Wayne Burton, Allan Howland, Ute Luxem, Douglas Marino, Sean Starkey
Town Council, 1-year term (1): Diana Carroll
Library Board of Trustees (3): Charlotte Ramsay, William Schoonmaker, Jenna Roberts
Supervisors of the Checklist (1): Deborah Hirsch-Mayer
Trustees of the Trust Funds (1): Craig Seymour
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The following is a list of individuals that have filed for the ORCSD elected offices:
At-Large School Board, 3-year terms
Thomas Newkirk - Durham
Margaret Redhouse - Lee
Kenneth Rotner - Durham
For Moderator
Richard Laughton
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OYSTER RIVER COOPERATIVE SCHOOL DISTRICT IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Important ORCSD Dates to Remember:
February 16 - Candidates' Night, ORHS Location C-120, 7PM. Snow Date: Feb 18
Report of the District February 2016 Edition will be available the beginning of February at the SAU Office, Town Halls, Libraries, Schools, and posted on the ORCSD website.
If unable to pick up a report, please contact Wendy at 603-389-3286 or via email: wdifruscio@orcsd.org.
Budget information can be found HERE.
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Dr. David Burdick of the UNH Jackson Lab explains the concept of a "living shoreline."
Courtesy Todd Selig
WAGON HILL FARM SHORELINE – This week a group from Durham met with UNH and NHDES researchers to discuss the concept of a “living shoreline” at WHF
This week on January 25th, Public Works Director Mike Lynch organized a meeting with Dr. David Burdick, Director of the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory; Dr. Gregg Moore, UNH; Kirsten Howard, NHDES Coastal Resilience Specialist; Kevin Lucey, NHDES Coastal Program; Rachel Gasowski, Durham P&R Director; Town Councilor Wayne Burton; and Mr. Selig in the 2nd Floor Conference Room at the Town Hall. To purpose was to discuss the notion of creating a “living shoreline”
Shorelines are often stabilized with hardened structures, such as bulkheads, revetment, and concrete seawalls. Ironically, these structures often increase the rate of coastal erosion, remove the ability of the shoreline to carry out natural processes, and provide little habitat for estuarine species.
The group this week in Durham discussed the concept of implementing a more natural bank stabilization technique called “living shorelines.” This approach uses plants, sand, and limited use of rock to provide shoreline protection and maintain valuable habitat.
Living shoreline projects utilize a variety of structural and organic materials, such as wetland plants, submerged aquatic vegetation, oyster reefs, coir fiber logs, sand fill, and stone. The benefits of living shorelines include:
Stabilization of the shoreline.
Protection of surrounding riparian and intertidal environment.
Improvement of water quality via filtration of upland run-off.
Creation of habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species.
In looking at the Wagon Hill Farm shoreline, the consensus was that several primary factors are impacting erosion, not listed here in any priority order:
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Shading from shoreline trees;
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Ice scour;
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Tramping from human/animal activity
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Velocity scour;
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Boat wake;
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Wind Fetch;
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Rising sea level from Climate Change;
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Health of Great Bay.
The group plans to schedule a site walk at Wagon Hill Farm to evaluate specific areas of erosion further.
The discussion this week was very promising with UNH and NHDES scientists interested in potentially working with Durham to utilize Wagon Hill Farm as a pilot/demonstration/research site for various “living shoreline” approaches making for an extremely positive Durham-UNH-NHDES collaboration.
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FEBRUARY VACATION WEEK CAMP
Join Durham Parks and Recreation during February Vacation for a week of FUN, entertainment and adventure! Participants are welcome to sign-up for specific days or for the whole week! Check out our detailed Feb. Vacation Week Camp schedule HERE.
Who: Kindergarten -6th Grade
When: Monday, February 22nd- Friday, February 26th 2016
Where: Oyster River Middle School Gymnasium and MPR
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Cost: $40 per day per student or $185 for the week
Min. of 12. Max of 24 participants daily
Registration deadline: Monday, February 15th 2016
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Bonnie McDermott at the Transfer Station, giving biscuits to Paddy and Tug. Bonnie knows the name of each of the many dogs who come to the Transfer Station. They are always enthusiastic for her attention, and for the treats she gives. Courtesy Janice Aviza
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COUNCIL TO TAKE UP RESOLUTION URGING STATE OF NH TO AMEND CURRENT ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STATUTES TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE FOR ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS AND EQUAL TREATMENT ON THE BIAS OF GENDER EXPRESSION AND GENDER IDENTITY IN THE AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS
On June 3, 2013, the Council adopted Resolution #2013-14 supporting the
equality of all individuals to obtain employment, access to all places of public
accommodation, and to obtain housing without regard to actual or perceived sexual
orientation, gender identity, or gender expression and establishing a Human Rights
Commission consisting of the Council chair, Administrator, and Business Manager.
The Administrator serves as the designated liaison between the Town and the
LGBT community.
Since its creation, Durham’s Human Rights Commission has met five times.
In August 2015, the Administrator was contacted by UNH Sophomore and Parliamentarian of the UNH Student Body, Doug Marino. Doug is also a member of the UNH Transgender Policy and Climate Committee. He requested that the Town of Durham adopt a resolution supporting the concept of adding gender identity and expression to the state’s anti-discrimination statutes, similar to one passed by the City of Portsmouth. Portsmouth was the first city in New Hampshire to pass such a resolution. He also spoke during “Public Comments” at the December 7, 2015 Town Council meeting, asking Councilors to take a stand concerning the civil rights of transgendered people and to adopt a resolution.
On Wednesday, January 20, 2016, the Town Human Rights Commission met and invited Mr. Marino to attend the meeting to review and discuss a draft resolution. After a minor language amendment was made to the resolution, the Commission unanimously passed a motion to recommend that the proposed resolution, as amended, be brought to the Council for action.
The resolution urges the State of New Hampshire to amend its current anti-discrimination statutes to include language for anti-discrimination protections and equal treatment, respect, and dignity for individuals on the basis of gender expression and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations.
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A DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR MIXED AGE HOUSING IN FINLAND
A CNN article highlights a housing idea in Finland that mixes elderly residents with young adult residents. The only proviso is that the young adults give a minimum of between three and five hours of their time to their elderly neighbors each week.
The pilot project, run by the City of Helsinki, began this week and sees people under the age of 25 provided with cheap accommodation inside the city's Rudolf Seniors Home for one year.
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ADMINISTRATOR'S 2015 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
On January 11, 2016 the Council discussed the approach it would take to conduct Mr. Selig’s 2015 performance evaluation. Councilors decided to continue with the same process used in recent years in which the Council utilized a one-page evaluation form/matrix outlining key elements of importance and ranking the administrator’s performance (on a scale of 1 to 5) for each element, which included five categories:
1. Ability to maintain or improve strong relationships;
2. Financial oversight;
3. Leadership;
4. Initiative; and
5. Other.
Rankings included: 5=Excellent, 4=Very Good, 3=Good, 2=Acceptable, 1=Unacceptable.
This year's consolidated average score from Town Councilors increased from 4.3 in 2014 to 4.4 in 2015.
To view the evaluation results, click HERE.
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YEAR END GROSS WAGES (2015) FOR TOWN OF DURHAM EMPLOYEES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING ON DURHAM WEB SITE
While not required to do so by law, annually the Town compiles a list of year end gross wages for Durham employees and makes it available for public viewing.
To view the 2015 list, click HERE.
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AFSCME (Public Works) UNIT FAILS TO RATIFY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH TOWN
The Town and the AFSCME unit representing Durham’s public works personnel had been in collective bargaining negotiations for several months and had reached a “Tentative Agreement” in December 2015. Tentative Agreements, however, must be ratified by both the full union membership and by the Town Council. The Town has been informed that the AFSCME membership failed to ratify the agreement. Contract discussions therefore return to the bargaining table.
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COUNCIL TO TAKE UP RATIFICATION OF FIREFIGHTER (DPFFA) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CONTRACT MONDAY EVENING
The Town began the contract negotiation process in October 2015 with the Durham Professional Firefighters Association (DPFFA) representing the sixteen firefighters and two fire inspectors covered by the DPFFA contract. The Town and Union had previously negotiated a one year contract for January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.
The Town’s bargaining team comprised of the Town’s Labor Attorney, the Business Manager, the Fire Chief, and the Administrator evaluated the State of New Hampshire economy, requirements under the Affordable Care Act, Durham’s budget priorities/limitations, specific Durham Fire Department goals, and the state of labor negotiations within other New Hampshire political subdivisions. Generally speaking, Durham has been relatively successful in attracting and retaining high quality fire personnel due to its pay/benefit structure and a positive working environment at the department.
As part of the ratification process for Collective Bargaining Agreements with the Council-Manager form of government in the Town of Durham, Mr. Selig has the authority to agree to policy and working condition issues within the Agreement. The Town Council, however, must approve money items.
The respective bargaining teams reached a “Tentative Agreement” and the Town team believes this Collective Bargaining Agreement will maintain Durham’s firefighters in a competitive position with respect to other communities in terms of pay and benefits, but also serves to mitigate the Town’s long-term exposure to health insurance costs and the ACA Cadillac tax.
The DPFFA unit unanimously ratified the Agreement by a vote of its membership on January 19, 2016. The Town and unit have agreed to an increase in health and dental insurance contributions, equal sharing of the Cadillac Tax of the ACA when implemented, annual COLA’s, addition of steps, and coordinator stipends, as well as other language changes regarding use of personal leave, bereavement leave, training and education.
HEALTH AND DENTAL CONTRIBUTIONS – Employees currently contribute 10% towards health and dental insurance plans. Effective July 1st of each year the percentage shall be increased as follows:
2016 11%
2017 13%
2018 15%
2019 15%
2020 20%
HEALTH AND DENTAL BUY OUT - Current employees are eligible for reimbursement in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the Town’s contribution cost of health and/or dental insurance. Effective January 1, 2016 all new employees who elect the buy-out provision for health and/or dental insurance will be reimbursed fifteen percent (15%) of the Town’s share of the yearly cost.
CADILLAC TAX – In the event the so-called Cadillac Tax of the ACA is implemented in 2018 or any year covered by this Agreement, and thereafter, the cost of said tax or increase in premiums shall be borne equally by the employee and the Town.
WAGE SCHEDULE - The current contract has 12 steps. The Town has agreed to the addition of one step per year in the amount of 1.5%, as well as COLA increases as follows:
2016 1.5% COLA and addition of Step 13
2017 2.0% COLA and addition of Step 14
2018 2.0% COLA and addition of Step 15
2019 2.0% COLA and addition of Step 16
2020 2.0% COLA and addition of Step 17
The Town’s Labor Attorney, Joseph McKittrick, will meet with Councilors on Monday evening at 6:00 PM to provide more information and answer any questions with regard to this contract. The Town’s bargaining team and the Administrator recommend that the Council ratify the agreement at Monday night’s Council meeting.
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TWO OFFICERS LEAVING EMPLOY OF DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT - One officer leaves for Dover PD, the other for the FBI
Chief Kurz is sorry to report that Officer Nick Glowacki, a five-year veteran of the department tended his resignation at the beginning of January to accept employment with the Dover Police Department. The mobility and diversity of assignments offered at a larger police agency poses a retention challenge for smaller agencies. Ironically the same challenge exists for Dover’s Police Chief Tony Colarusso as the patrol officer vacancy at Dover is due to his officers accepting employment in Manchester. And the dominos fall!
Doubling the sadness is Detective Jennifer Kelly, who celebrated her eighth year of employment with the Durham Police, tending her resignation this week to Chief Kurz.
Jennifer has accepted employment to be a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jennifer will begin training at the FBI training facility in Quantico, Virginia on March 6th. Jennifer came to us as a magna cum laude graduate of UNH with a degree in Russian, a talent we are sure she will be taking more advantage of in her role as a FBI Agent.
She has served in the role of patrol officer, acting supervisor and most recently as Detective contributing her expertise in the arrest of Gregory Potter for a series of arsons and numerous other significant felony investigations. While we are very sad at Jen’s resignation, we are also very proud of her achievement in being hired by the FBI and grateful for having had the opportunity to work with such a dedicated and compassionate person.
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SELECTION PROCESS TO COMMENCE FOR DURHAM POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATES
Filling two police officer vacancies is a challenge even under exceptional conditions. There are written tests, physical agility tests and oral boards just to identified potential candidates, with a host of additional testing processes to follow.
These procedures take time and energy to ensure that the appropriate persons are being hired by the department to provide public safety services to the community.
Durham Police have employed a unique and specialized selection process for a number of years and recently their program was published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in their Winter issue of “Big Ideas for Smaller Police Agencies”.
Chief Kurz has always included two citizens in the oral board process to assist in identifying qualified persons. This process will include Theresa Walker and Sean Starkey, both of whom have been actively engaged in a number of community projects with Theresa chairing the Agricultural Committee and Sean chairing the Zoning Board of Appeals.
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DAYTIME RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES IN DURHAM - Several have taken place this last week!
In the last two weeks, there have been several daytime burglaries in town. The Durham Police Department is actively investigating all of the reported cases. The department is comparing and sharing information regarding the burglaries with neighboring communities to assess for similar patterns and suspects, as well as checking through pawn shop information to attempt to locate stolen items and return them to their rightful owners.
As residents, there are several precautionary steps that can be taken to help prevent break-ins:
You know your neighborhood best. You know what is “normal” for your area, what vehicles generally belong and who is typically around the neighborhood. At any point, day or night, if you see any suspicious activity, please call the police department at 603-868-2324.
If there is a vehicle you do not recognize, or people wandering the neighborhood who look unfamiliar and are walking around houses, call the police immediately. The police will respond check on the vehicle and/or person to ensure those individuals are in the area for legitimate purposes!
Write down as much detail as you can about the vehicle or people you see (type of vehicle, color, bumper stickers, damage to the vehicle, clothing descriptions, and other identifying features) in case they leave the area before police are able to arrive on scene – DO NOT follow the vehicle or people on your own.
The information you obtain can then be transferred to the police to help them look for the individuals. If you can do so safely and without drawing attention to yourself, write down the license plate state and number of the vehicle.
Remember to lock your doors and windows. We are fortunate that Durham is generally a safe community, but take the extra steps to ensure the security of your property by taking the time to lock all the doors accessing your residence and all of your windows.
Be aware of door-to-door sales associates. If a company wishes to go door to door in neighborhoods, they must first obtain a permit from the town to do so and the information is relayed to the police department, who will be aware of their activity. Some past practice for criminals has been to impersonate sales associates to “case” neighborhoods, to determine who is at home during the day and what houses they can gain access to. If you choose to speak with a sales representative, ask for identification. If you still do not feel comfortable with them, call the police department and they can verify the sales activity in the area, or they can come and check on the individual. You are under no obligation to open your door for a sales representative.
Safety tips for kids. If your child is home alone for a period of time, and someone knocks on the door and they become afraid, please let them know it is okay to call the police!
Some children are afraid that they will get in trouble for calling the police if it turns out there is no issue. That is what the police are here for and they are happy to dispel any fear! This information can be applied to anyone, not just for kids – the police want to ensure that you and your neighbors are safe.
If you come home and notice something is off, or a door is open. If you arrive home and notice something unusual for your residence, such as a door or a window is open, DO NOT enter your house. Call the police and they will arrive and search your residence to ensure no one is still in your house, hiding. If you do enter your house and notice drawers have been opened, or items are missing – STOP, try not to touch anything else, and go outside of your residence. Call the police and as above, they will search your house to ensure no one is still in the home.
Keep a list of your valuables in a safe place. A huge aid to a burglary investigation is having a detailed list of your valuable items. For jewelry, keep a list of your items – be as detailed as possible, estimate the value of the items, and best of all – take and save pictures of the jewelry that show all the details of the piece. For electronics, write down a detailed description of the items and most importantly, include the serial number. Even noting small scratches or damage to items can be a huge help.
If you would like further information, please feel free to contact the Durham Police Department at any point at (603) 868-2324 and an officer would be happy to speak with you!
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ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORTS FROM DURHAM POLICE
As many residents are aware, the Durham Police Department is a nationally accredited law enforcement agency through CALEA. The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Program is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by maintaining a body of standards and then demonstrating the department’s adherence to these best practices. To demonstrate that adherence, Chief Kurz and his staff complete a host of annual reviews of activities throughout the previous year. While many are managerial oversight reviews, others may be of interest to the Durham community as the department delivers these services in a transparent manner.
This week Chief Kurz is offering links to three of these reports including a Vehicle Pursuit Analysis, which discusses one of the more highly risky police behaviors. Bias Review encompasses a wide ranging inspection of Durham Police activity. The Durham Police Department strictly prohibits the use of bias for the purpose of conducting any department business and defines “Bias Policing to include, but is not limited to race, ethnic background, national origin, gender, sexual orientation/identity, religion, economic status, age, cultural group, or any other identifiable characteristics being used as the sole determinant for agency actions or omissions including, but not limited to day-to-day business, motor vehicle stops, field contact and interviews, arrests or detentions, and asset seizure and/or forfeiture.” While this is an important statement and goal, it is critical that the department undertakes the efforts to review our actions to ensure that the policy is being adhered to and take corrective action if deviations are detected. Finally there is an “Early Warning System” which is a program that is used in concert with the Performance Evaluation System of the department. The Personnel Early Warning System is designed to identify those employees who may need some level of departmental intervention before potential problems arise. Each year an analysis of the system is accomplished to ensure that identification is occurring if necessary.
As the Durham Police accomplish these reports, they are demonstrating a best practice approach to providing law enforcement services that also attempts to manage risk associated with this authority. In so doing, the Town’s liability insurance provider, Primex, reduces that annual cost of that insurance by 10% due to the accredited status of the Durham Police. In following weeks additional reports that may be of interest to the community will be provided.
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ORCSD WARRANT ARTICLE #3: THE ATHLETIC FIELDS UPGRADE PROJECT BY THE HIGH SCHOOL
On March 8th residents of the Oyster River Cooperative School District will have the opportunity to approve Warrant Article #3, which would authorize the district to do a complete athletic facilities upgrade at the high school.
If 60% of the district’s voters approve, Warrant Article #3 would install an artificial turf rectangular playing field, an all-weather track with 8 sprint lanes and reconfigure the baseball and softball fields for safer play. Under this proposal all athletic programs in the district would receive significant benefit.
The total cost of this project is $2.2 million dollars. Article #3 asks Oyster River taxpayers to approve a bond of up to $1.5 Million over a 10 year period to fund the majority of the costs for this athletic facility upgrade project at the high school. In addition to including an all-weather track, an artificial turf playing field and reconfiguring both the baseball and the softball fields the 2016 proposal also includes an environmentally friendly infill for the turf field. The benefits of this project include increased safety, improved drainage for the entire facility, reduced runoff into Beard’s Creek, and increased field access which will reduce the need to rent UNH fields for the district.
Assuming the $1.5 million bond is approved by the voters, $300,000 for the project has been previously raised and will be used to fund the construction of the all-weather track. The remaining $400,000 will come from the year end fund balance at the ORCSD.
The Oyster River School Board anticipates that additional fund raising will make enhancements to the project, including field lights and dugouts, possible.
A similar proposal was made last year in order to address the long-standing need for improved athletic facilities in the school district. Because the project involves bonding a 60% majority is required. Last year 56% of the voters supported the project.
Given that the vote was so close last year the school board authorized the creation of the Ad Hoc Athletic Fields Committee charging them with identifying the key issues of concern to the voters of the district and to make recommendations to the board for modifications to the proposal.
After months of work the ad hoc committee made two key recommendations for this project:
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The first recommendation was to remove tire crumb rubber infill from the project and replace it with an alternative called EPDM which eliminates the health concerns raised last year.
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The second recommendation was to reduce total bonding by $200,000 which also reduces the tax impact from the previous proposal by more than 10%.
The district hopes that these basic changes will allow the project to secure a 60% vote of the district on March 8th.
For more information on the ORCSD Athletic Fields Project, click HERE.
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ABATEMENT DEADLINE FOR 2015
The deadline for 2015 property tax abatement requests in Durham is March 1, 2016. Please contact Assessor Jim Rice for more information at jrice@ci.durham.nh.us.
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LAMPREY RIVERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WINTER 2016 NEWSLETTER
The Lamprey Rivers Advisory Committee has published its Winter 2016 newsletter. To view the newsletter, click HERE.
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AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION WORKSHOP
Never too early to plan your garden! Save this date - Wednesday, March 9th at 7pm - for a Seed Starting Workshop at the Durham Public Library. Sponsored by the Durham Public Library and the Durham Agricultural Commission.
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AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION WEEKLY MINI FILM SERIES
Durham's Agricultural Commission's has begun featuring a Mini Film Series in the weekly "Friday Updates". Each week a short video on an agricultural topic will be posted that Commission members hope subscribers will enjoy and find helpful.
The Durham Agricultural Mini Film this week is about How to Start Seeds. A nice, simple video showing how to start seeds indoors using a grow light system.
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OYSTER RIVER HIGH SCHOOL CLOTHING DRIVE
A winter clothing drive is coming to town. Oyster River High School students have planned a clothing drive for the month of February. Gently used, clean clothes, jackets, shoes and boots will be collected and donated to Echo Thrift Store. Donation Boxes are conveniently located in the entry way of Oyster River High School, the Durham Town Hall and the Durham Library.
Echo Thrift Store provides a great internship site for ORHS students to develop employment skills. In return students have organized the clothing drive and look forward to collecting many donations.
The ECHO shop is open Monday- Friday 10:00-5:00 and Saturdays 10:00-2:00. ECHO is located in the back of the Durham Community Church 17 Main Street Durham.
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DCAT CABLE CHANNEL 22
First in the Nation Primary - Have you ever wondered how Iowa and New Hampshire got to be first? DCAT 22 Studios recorded the program at the Durham Public Library. Join David Moore and Andy Smith, authors of the book “The First Primary”, New Hampshire’s Outsize Role in the Presidential Nominations. Don’t pass up the opportunity to enjoy this special program on your own DCAT 22.
Saturday & Sunday @ 1:30 PM
Also available on DCAT On Demand
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The "Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Presents SOCIAL MEDIA: A Predators Playground" presented at the ORMS on Monday, December 7th. The presentation was recorded by DCAT 22. This presentation was offered in conjunction with the ORMS PTO, Durham Police Department, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Learn about the dangers that face teens every day. In doing so, we’ll discuss how computers, cell phones, IPads, digital cameras, gaming systems, social networking applications, and Internet blogs all play a role in placing students and families at risk. This 1.5 hour presentation is specifically geared towards parents and educators who looking to better understand the technology available to teens today and the way in which child predators use it to exploit them.
DCAT 22 replay times: Saturday & Sunday @ 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM
Also available on DCAT On Demand
Run time: 1:22
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DCAT is Live Streaming
Please join DCAT for any of our regularly scheduled meetings live-streamed directly to the device of your choice . It’s easy, all you have to do is go to: live-stream.com and follow the prompts to set up your live stream account. You’ll receive email updates as to when the meeting will be held and the start time. All you have to do is click and watch. Live-stream works on any PC (just remember to update your Adobe Flash player), Apple or Android device. Please contact dcat@ci.durham.nh.us with any questions.
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PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
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.
Winter Programs
Our Winter Programs and Events Guide is packed full of programs, classes, trips and activities to keep everyone busy this winter! Check it out!
Save the Date!!
Discover Durham’s Trails- February, 21st: Snowshoe the Sweet Trail
Bus Trips- March 16th- Boston Flower and Garden Show
March 16th- Boston Celtics Game
March 18th- No School Ski Day to Gunstock Mtn. Resort
Coyote Club Session 4- Mondays, March 7th-April 11th
Annual Egg Hunt- Saturday, March 26th
February Vacation Week Camp!
Join Durham Parks and Recreation during February Vacation for a week of FUN, entertainment and adventure! Participants are welcome to sign-up for specific days or for the whole week! Please visit us online to see what we have planned!
Who: Kindergarten -6th Grade
When: Monday, February 22nd- Friday, February 26th 2016
Where: Oyster River Middle School Gymnasium and MPR
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Cost: $40 per day per student or $185 for the week
Min. of 12. Max of 24 participants daily
Registration deadline: Monday, February 15th 2016
FREE Astronomy Workshop at Durham Public Library
Durham Parks & Recreation is teaming up with UNH Astronomer John Gianforte - The SkyGuy, to offer Stargazing at Wagon Hill Farm! Before we head outside, we will kick-off this exciting, family-friendly program with a FREE indoor astronomy workshop on Monday, February 8th at the Durham Public Library from 6 -7:30pm. Please let Durham Parks & Rec. know you’ll be attending the workshop by Friday, February 6th so we can best prepare for the evening.
Community Archery Clinic
Archery In Motion will be instructing this four-week clinic which will focus on safety, proper form and developing technique to become more precise in order to enhance the archers’ abilities.
Who: Ages 7-107+!
When: February 2nd- March 1st (no clinic on Feb. 23rd)
Where: Oyster River Middle School MPR
Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Cost: $70/person
Min. of 8, Max. of 12
Registration deadline: Friday, January 29th, 2016 day options are available
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AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
Climbing Club: Durham Parks & Recreation has once again teamed up with UNH Outdoor Education for the after school Climbing Club. Participants will work closely with UNH Outdoor Edu. students who are AMGA certified instructors to learn belaying skills, knots, equipment, climbing technique, problem solving skills, and more! New and experienced climbers welcome.
Dates: Fridays: February 5th - March 4th, 2016 (no climbing on Feb. 26th)
Time: After School until 5pm
Location: NH Hall (UNH)- Artificial Climbing Wall
Fee: $50/student
Ages: Grades 5+
Min: 10/ Max: 24
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 29th, 2016
Teeter TOTers Parent-Child Playgroup: February Activity Schedule
We want to hear from you! Have a new exciting program idea? Please be sure to share your vision with Parks and Recreation Director, Rachel Gasowski. Stop by the Recreation Department Office (2 Dover Road), or call/email the department at (603) 817-4074/ rgasowski@ci.durham.nh.us.
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COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Face to Face with Alzheimer’s: Learning, Accepting and Finding Hope, Jan 30th at 7:00 PM and Jan 31st at 3:00 PM, Community Church of Durham. Join us for a rare opportunity to hear the Church Choir perform “Alzheimer’s Stories.” The libretto is based on real stories by ordinary people whose lives have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease. Reception will follow in Fellowship Hall. Please contact Carly Hellen, OTR, at 603.397.501, with any questions.
Active Retirement Association General Meeting, Monday, Feb 8, 2016,1:30 PM, Durham Evangelical Church (lower level), 114 Dover Road (Route 108), Durham, NH. The program will feature AARP presenter Norma Boyce discussing how you can protect yourself against frauds and scams.
UNH Celebrity Series - Walnut Street Theatre presentation of A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O’Neill, Wednesday, Feb 10, 2016, 7PM, Paul Creative Arts Center’s Johnson Theatre, Durham. Tickets can be purchased on line HERE.
Free showing of the documentary “Just Eat It” Thursday, Feb 11, 2016, 6:30 PM, Oyster River High School Auditorium. Food waste is a seemingly insignificant problem that is having shockingly massive global impact. This issue is explored in the movie “Just Eat It” . Panel discussion following the movie will explore the various aspects and solutions to this issue. Sponsored by the Seacoast Interfaith Stewards of the Earth (SISE)* NextGen Climate, UNH Campus Ministry and the Oyster River Sustainability Committee (*) SISE is an alliance of 7 Seacoast area denominations that seeks to give a unified response to the planet’s environmental crisis.
FREE 4-Week Winter Softball Clinic for Ages 4-16, Sundays 2/14, 2/21, 2/28, 3/6, 2016, 11:15 - 12:45 PM, ORHS Multi-purpose Room. Put on by ORHS softball coaches, Dover Youth Softball Coaches, and ORYA. Come to one or all four sessions. Even if you do not have a glove, bat, or helmet, please come any way as some equipment will be available to use. More information, contact chris.campbell@nhsportandspine.com
UNH Museum of Art February Events. All Events are held at the Paul Creative Arts Center at UNH unless otherwise noted below.
Wed, Feb 10, 12:00 PM - Gallery Talk: Nathan Miner. Will discuss his studio practice and works of art on exhibit in Groundswell.
Thu, Feb 11, 6:00 - 7:30 PM - LiveArts! Open Mic. An evening of musical open mic night performances by students from the University’s music community.
Wed, Feb 17, 12:00 PM - Gallery Talk: Cristi Rinklin. Will discuss her works of art on exhibit in Groundswell.
Wed, Feb 24, 4:00 PM - Off-Site Studio Visit. Christina Pitsch featured artist in Natural Wonder will open her studio for a behind-the-scenes tour of her live-work space. Join us in Manchester, Space is limited, RSVP by Feb 19 to museum.of.art@unh.edu, directions provided upon RSVP.
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Runkun 'Cara' Song's calligraphy exhibit Feb. 1st @ 7pm and workshop on Feb. 2nd @ 5:30pm
DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Chinese Calligraphy Exhibit Opening Reception, Mon. Feb. 1st 7pm - Runkun "Cara" Song, 18 years old, shares her accomplishments and talents.
Workshop with Miss Song, Chinese Calligraphy, Tues. Feb. 2nd 5:30-7:30pm – An overview of Chinese calligraphy. Create your own work of art to bring home assisted by Miss Song. $5 fee for materials. Register with Armida Geiger, 603-988-6616 or e-mail ageiger@ci.durham.nh.us
S.T.E.A.M. Program, Sat. Jan. 27th, 10:30-11:30am. This week’s theme: Lego and Fun Catapults, next week: Dynamic Drawing – Join us every Saturday for S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) activities in the Storytime/Craftroom. All ages welcome!
Poetry Reading & NH Notables, featured poet Abigail Carroll, Tues. Feb. 9th 7pm – Words & Music for the Senses! Program includes UNH professors and students from the English Dept. and music from the UNH a capella group, The NH Notables. Intermission with light refreshments. Contact Armida Geiger ageiger@ci.durham.nh.us Make this your Valentine’s Destination!
Roberta Shea “Artist in Residence” March 2nd – March 5th- Much more info to come! Opening exhibit & reception on Wed. Mar. 2nd 7pm. Monotype print workshop for adult on Thurs., Mar. 3rd 12-3:30pm. Printmaking for children on Sat., Mar. 5th 10:30am-12pm. Register for adult print workshop with Armida Geiger #988-6616 ageiger@ci.durham.nh.us. For children’s workshop information, contact Lisa Kleinmann ekleinmann@ci.durham.nh.us
Seacoast Reads – Want a UNH reading Buddy? Sign up your child (1st-3rd grade) to read with a college student trained by the UNH Education Department’s Seacoast Reads program. Register at the Children’s Desk or call # 868-6699. Program begins in February!
Game Afternoon, Mon. Feb. 1st, 2:45-4pm, For ages 10 & up – Come and play some fun games and have a snack too.
Raccoon Readers, 2nd-4th grade, Tues., Feb. 2nd 6-7pm - “Half Magic” by Edward Eager. Discuss the book/author, play games, have snacks and more. Books available at circulation desk.
Storytimes! This week’s theme: Groundhogs & Counting, Tues. Feb. 2nd and Thurs. Feb. 4th 10:30am, next week’s theme: Valentine’s Join us for stories, finger-plays, felt board, songs and a craft.
Baby-Lapsit, Wed. Feb. 3rd 10:30-11:30am - For children & their care-givers, infancy to age 2. Songs, stories, movement, rhymes & socializing afterward.
Knitting Club, Wed. Feb. 3rd 4-5 pm - 3rd through 5th graders knitting club. Please register at the Children's desk.
Lego Club (K-4th grade), This week’s theme: Balances, Thurs. Feb. 4th 3:30-4:30pm – Like to build Legos? Join us to do Lego challenges and build cool structures. Please note the new start time.
Homeschoolers Group, Fri. Feb. 5th 10:30am, Theme: Chinese New Year – Join us for books, games, and a craft. This group is geared toward homeschoolers, but all are welcome.
Bookeaters Middle School Book Group, Wed. Feb. 10th 2:45-4pm – “Spirit Animals: Wild Born” by Brandon Mull. Facilitator, Ruth Wharton McDonald. Pizza is served and books are available at the circulation desk.
Acoustic Open Mic, Wed. Feb. 10th 6:30PM-8PM – Come to listen, come to perform. Hootmeisters, Peg Chaffee & Cheryl Sager. Food and event funded by the Friends of the DPL. Contact: Cheryl Sager #868-6699 durhampl@gmail.com
Friends of the DPL, Meeting Wed. Feb. 3rd 1PM social time, followed by meeting at 1:30pm. All are welcome to attend.
Friends of the DPL, Book Discussion Wed. Mar. 30th 10:30am-12pm – Book title: “Arthur and George” by Julian Barnes. Books soon to arrive for check-out at the circulation desk.
First Aid Class, Tues. Feb. 2nd 6:30- 8pm – Offered by McGregor Memorial EMS. Register at: http://cprsafe.org
Oyster River Knitters, Tues. Feb. 2nd 7-9pm – Contact Janet # 868-1142 jadoty@comcast.net
Alzheimer’s Café, Fri. Feb. 5th, 10:30am-12pm – Contact Nicole Moore # 868-6699, nmoore@ci.durham.nh.us
Durham Gardening Club, Tues. Feb. 9th, 6:30PM -8PM – Organizational meeting. Contact: Mary Caulfield #868-2220 john_mary92@msn.com
Tales for Tails – Have a child who needs to increase their confidence in reading? Have them read to one of our Pet Partner dogs! Your child will read ½ hour once a week to one of the dogs and their handlers. Sessions run for 4 weeks. Next session begins on Jan. 25th. Call the Children’s Dept.#868-6699 to sign up now!
Join the Reading Patch Club! Ages 2-12 years - Earn patches and a tote bag for hours that you read! Program sponsored by The Friends of the Durham Public Library.
For more information, visit the Durham Public Library website.
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WEEKLY ARREST REPORT
*Academic year commenced August 28th and will be measured through graduation at UNH in May.
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